I haven't blogged in the last couple days but Penelope has had 3 ground work days since my last post including today and even a very short ride today.
Mostly desensitizing, backing from the halter, moving off of pressure, moving the hind end and front end by using the carrot stick. Lots of all of that in our last couple sessions.
Today my friend Jessica came out and helped me work with her. She got out to the barn before I did so she started working with her and she called me and said, "Are you sure this mare has never been broke?" So we talked about how she seems to know all the groundwork and how she is so much more responsive to cues, and the fact that she is so easy to tack up.
So I told her we could get one her again and when I got there she had her tacked up and grazing. We lunged her with the saddle on for a little it and then Jessica hopped on. As expected, Penelope was perfectly still for all of it. Jessica squeezed with her legs and urged to forward.... nothing. So I reinforced it with the carrot stick, being very careful not to upset her too much so I had it way out behind her. She started walking forward and the tucked her head between her legs and started bucking. It didn't last too long, she probably got about 7 bucks in. Mostly hopping up and down, nothing too forceful.
Jessica decided to get off of her and do some ground work with the saddle on rather than have a bad ride and set us back.
So we did more desensitizing because she can be very reactive. Tapping on the saddle, flopping the stirrups, and waving a grain bag around and on her. The flopping of the stirrups took the longest for her to figure out. She too to the grain bag very well actually, she figured that out really fast.
I'll be out there on Wednesday to do all of this again. She is such a fast learner I'm excited to see how she takes it all on Wednesday.
Pictures to follow
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