Taming of the Shrew

TODAY WAS PROGRESS!

FOAMY BE PRAISED!

So I went to the barn, this being after going to the chiro for a session and all the horses were in. I took out Onyx first, then KC for the first time (and since he was so well behaved, I'll be willing to take him out from now on), and Carlene last. Prior to taking her out to the paddock for real, I left her tied to the tack post to see how she'd do. The last time I had tied her was in the "working paddock" which is my round pen substitute. She was very well behaved, had a saddle and pad (no girth, don't have a proper fitting one yet) on with a rope tied to the fence in a quick-release knot. I proceeded to walk away, turning to make sure she was okay, and she was. This was also the same day that we worked on "giving to pressure" which was also sucessfully (though the first few times I had to use treats to get her to touch the ground with her nose, after that she got it).


This time (in retrospect) I believe the reason why she was so alarmed was because she could no longer see me (I went in the tack room to stock up on treats). I can only guess by how I found her and what I heard. She apparently started to dance around in tight loops as much as she could, and then she started to neigh frantically (and got even more worked up after she heard KC reply- or maybe it was Onyx, sounded like KC). Besides that, she actually did do pretty well. I can credit our "give to pressure" exercise to the fact that she didn't try to break away from the post (what a flimsy thing it is- which is also why I left an emergency rope on her in case she did break away).

After that, I set her loose with her boyfriend and Onyx for a while. She's a curious thing really, so very territorial. Onyx is not allowed to interact or be interacted with any other horse but Calypso. She makes sure of this. If a horse is chatting with him across the fence, she chases it off. If she can't make it go away, she herds him away, sometimes she manages to do both at the same time. =3 However, knowing KC longer she's even more territorial of him. So instead when she (WAY on the other side of the pasture) noticed Onyx and KC nosing, she comes charging down to chase Onyx away and herd KC off. So hilarious, that one. Some would say she's a real woman, but I'm nice enough to keep that hush-hush...right? =P

So I put on the rope halter and we practiced the giving to pressure exercise. I'm really proud of her, this time it took no treats for her to touch her nose to the ground, just patience and persistance. After I was satisfied, I took her outside the paddock (she was in the large one, with both O and KC) and decided we were going on a trail together. I didn't longe her, I'm trying to make sure it isn't a crutch for me and we just "do it." Believe me, on the way down the hill I kept thinking it was a mistake. And then I eventually corrected myself and remembered to think what I wanted her to do, how she was expected as a grown lady to act. She was too busy trying to high tail it back uphill for her buddies, but it helped me in that I didn't take any shit from her. We turned, I got after her ass when she broke away or bumped into me in a rude, pushy manner. I popped her ass and shoulder more than once, that's for sure. By popped, I mean I smacked her with the balled end of the lead, nothing painful, just the shock of the sound.

She certainly rebelled, she gave a low, half-hearted rear a few times (I actually got on her case about this and see how many times she'd do it before she learned she still had to listen, lol- whatever works?). Eventually, after she settled a bit, and we were nearly half way down the lower field, we encountered a peculiar thing. A blue stateline tack blanket was lying just outside of the field. I couldn't figure out of a horse threw it (suspiciously neat for such a thing), or if someone else was odd and trail rode out and then took the blanket off to collect for later. In any event, Calypso side-stepped it so I made sure to turn her around and make her look at it, touch her nose, and I even stuck a treat on it for her to find. Once I got her to touch it twice, we turned around, she got a pat, and we walked on (didn't want to over expose her and such). Actually, we trotted (I jogged) because I wanted her to release some of that pent up nervous energy, which she did, it was a good idea. =3

We made it to the forest and she was calmer, but still a bit too aware, I call it "hyper-focused." It's an annoying phenominom that my dog also does in regards to my aunt. Bah. Anywho, all things considered this was a huge MILESTONE in our relationship and my status as herd leader. HUGE, monumental even! Why, might you ask? The very first time I ever tried this, we barely made it down the hill to the lower pasture before we turned around and went back up. I couldn't control her, I didn't really want to pop her, she didn't want to go. It was a mess. My status was knocked down quite a bit that day. I was terrified out her, she's a big, grown arabian and I didn't stand a chance with her panicing. So not only was the way down hard, but the way back may of been even worse! This because she was anxious to high tail it back and I was anxious not to get dragged! So months later, doing this by myself, it was terrific. Fantastic!

So we get to the forest, and even if I wasn't tired, I made it a point to rest on a log and have her nose things. She found a few acorn shells and nibbled on those, and was otherwise fine (after a while of snorting and looking around like a freaky squirrel). So we eventually made off to the creek. I took a great risk by placing the rope down (though ready to grab it) and tying my bootlace and rolling up my jeans. I was lucky in that she had started to relax, and even took the opportunity to drink from the creek. I had her walk in a bit and then we just jogged right through each part. No hesitation, and she may of enjoyed it. I made it a point for her to walk up the hill, and when we reach the top we headed for the field.

At the rocks, I climbed on them to see how she went. WAY early in our experiences I climbed on a fence to see how she delt with someone above her. By combination of a creaky fence and an odd little person bossing her around for the first few times, she shied away. =3 This time, she was fine. A little hesitatant about positioning next to the rocks, but otherwise fine. I leaned on her once or twice, waved my arms (at which she took a slow step back, and you could tell she was thinking about this), and jumped up and down, then hopped off the rock and led her to the field.

I sat down and waited for her to relax. By now, Onyx would of been eating grass and trying to drag me away so he could get the best of the best, but she was busy looking all around, checking things out. I picked some blades and offered them to her, but she would have no part of it, even if she gobbled the meadow mints just after. xD Eventually, I lowered her head and coaxed her into at least nibbling. She only ate a tiny portion, but it was enough. After a bit, I decided it was getting late and I better head back. After all, Onyx and KC were still out. We headed to the rocks for a few more tests. I was THIS close to getting on her, but I checked myself. If I got thrown I was headed for rocks and logs with no helmet. =3; Been there, done that, Onyx threw me in almost the same spot and I blacked out. Lucky to not of died, though I did get a concussion. x3; I had pissed my mom off about that. She said I should have gone to the ER because the swelling could have killed me- I didn't know that. >.>

ANYWHO, wasn't risking it. So I just hopped about some more, threw my leg over with varying speed and weight. She was fine for everything. Did that step back and think thing again, but never took off. She's come a long way, for sure. A nice jogger woman with blonde hair, a light blue tee, black pants, and white sneakers asked if I needed any help holding her. xD I laughed and said no, she's never been ridden before and I was just testing her out. She said that Calypso was beautiful and I thank her. After a few more tests, we headed back.

Again, crossed with no problems, just before leaving the forest I made sure to think that we were firmly walking, and would do so calmly and orderly. And we did. She didn't even attempt to running away, or even speed up! They grow up so fast. ='D We passed the blanket, no side stepping that time, but we stopped and repeated the process anyway. I considered putting it on her back (she'd be good for it, so long as I was slow about it), but since I didn't know WHY it was there, I left it alone. At the top, I saw Bob with KC and she of course neighed to him (okay, maybe they do not grow up too fast....) and he neighed back. I tapped her a bit and made sure she behaved, but really I was looking at Onyx in the distance. He was just galloping to the gate and STOPPED (sliding stop) and REARED at the gate!!! He's never acted that way. So 1) he's more comfortable in the herd and is no longer a loner so much and 2) he's feeling MUCH better. MUCH, MUCH, MUCH better! xD In any event, Bob said he had been tearing around the pasture bucking and such, and I said an early goodbye after letting KC and Calypso exchange a hello so Onyx could have company and settle the hell down before someone complained. =P He's so cute though, he nickered to her when he saw her coming. xD So that's pretty much it. All was done, we relaxed, etc.

Onto the blanket mystery! It turns out a couple of boarders (the busybody, Linda, and the nice lady, Kirsten) had taken off all of the blankets (I COMMEND YOU!!!) because it was just too damn hot out. They must of forgotten to take that blanket up, and it happened to belong to Louie, an older and skinnier horse. Well Lisa (blanket and shaving freak) was naturally pissed off about this, but I wasn't going to rat Kirsten out, I like her (of course a different boarder managed to do that- why'd you open your trap?! Ah well...). So I just mentioned that I did see a blue blanket down there by the lower field. She thanked me and went with Doc in the truck to go get it and put it on the old guy. =3

The end? Almost. After a bit more waiting, I went up to bring the horses down. Onyx went into his stall first, i put two treats in his bucket (insta-gobbled!) and then left. When I went to get Calyspo, she was talking with KC (Bob had walked over) on the other side of the training paddock. Well I wasn't concerned, she wasn't going to run anywhere, so I just went up to the gate and started to unlock it.

Well, she did the most heart-warming thing she's ever done thus far. She walked over to me. Why is this so heartwarming? I say this ALL the time because it's true. KC and Calypso are "critically attached" in the annoying buddy-sour sort of way. CONJOINED TWINS. Anywho, when free, she hangs with him, no doubts about it. However, in the middle of me unlocking the gate, she came right over to me and stood there waiting patiently for me to take her out. It was so cute. She choose me over him. =3 Any other time she would of stuck with him, perhaps even side stepped away from me to not be caught, but this time she chose to come. So cool and I can really tell we're going to have fun trailing together. =3 So I semi-rewarded her by walking her back over to him (had to switch halters anywho), and then we left no problem. =D

The end! xP