The other day, when I was asking Moondance to come into the barn he had his usual Idon'twanna attitude; when I backed him up to regroup he got downright rude, rearing and pawing - so we had a Come To Jesus meeting with the help of my dressage whip - no I didn't beat him up or whip him into submission! What I did was calmly strike him on his front legs below the knee when he was in the air- and then stand at his shoulder and ask him again to come forward; when he balked I reached back behind me (so he couldn't see the whip) and tapped him on the butt. It took three times and then he decided he would much rather be in the barn munching on his barley. The next day, he figured he would go see daddy instead of stepping in the barn and got told no ; one tap on the hip and he stepped in and then backed out, 2 more tries and in he went. Yesterday- only 2 taps. Hopefully today he will just walk in like a good boy! Them young'uns do like to test their boundaries. With young stallions you do have to be vigilant that their childish behaviour doesn't become ingrained and make them dangerous as adult horses. He has to be respectful of his handler but not fearful; a fearful horse can be dangerous. Another area where he is being asked to mind his manners is when I am in the pen cleaning their shelter or putting hay out. Usually a vocal command- a HEY! or a growl will get him to back off out of my personal space; and here one has to be careful not to turn it into a game that colts would play.
Speaking of play, he was feeling pretty good yesterday, so of course I had to video it!
Both Jayne and Belle have had about enough of his antics; they are doing a good job of telling him off.
I haven't had him out in the round pen for a few days, but I did load him in the horse trailer just as a reminder the other day.
Didn't he just walk right in without hesitating! Silly boy.
The mares are looking pregnant, both are due in May.
Pretty excited for this one, hopefully my keeper filly!
That isn't a sagging topline on Jayne, it's just the way the mud on her back follows the contour and makes it look like her spine is sticking up. She is actually in great shape.
Belle has her usual big belly, and as you can see by comparison, it is pretty obvious that Gussie is not in foal to Drifter. She may have caught originally but probably absorbed it due to complications from her fecal water syndrome contaminating her vaginal tract.
With snow in the forecast for most of the week, I will have to pick my days for working Moondance. I think it's time to hand walk him again, just he and I to get him thinking less about himself and more about just going forward. I don't want to pony him from Gussie at this time as I suspect he is quite hormonal with this weather that is more like March than January; bare lawn and trees budding is not what I expect in January!
With colts especially, every time you handle them you are training them, so no day is lost.
