Squeaky Clean Queen

Day 7

Guess who got to brush her little mare today?!

Yes, so the next most exciting milestone to reach (in my opinion). Today I got to brush her. And not just a little bit either. Like brush soaked in show sheen, mat removing kind of brushing. It felt so cool to be able to do such a normal horsey thing with my perfect little desert queen❤️

 

She didn't seem the slightest bit concerned, and even let me brush out her mane (which is luxurious by the way!) 

We began to set up the chute to the round pen, and got 80% finished before I went in with her. We are making progress there too. She was very curious and a little nervous with the panels, but settled immediately as everything else did. She's one smart cookie. 

Arya was very happy to see her food today, and like yesterday waited faithfully by the gate for dinner. 

 

She loves her grain (she even went for it first today!) with her Buglyte supplement, hopefully it'll keep the bugs at bay until I can get her fly sprayed. That'll be an interesting day!

We didn't make much progress with her face today, which is okay by me. I'm just thrilled to be brushing her. 

Till tomorrow!

-Alison

Rainy Day Blues

Day 6

Today stunk.

This non stop rain has really put a hitch everything. The pen was too wet to do absolutely anything but sit in the run in and hang out. Arya probably enjoys this much as I do. Being a queen of the desert, who knows what she would have to say about this weather, if she could talk that is...

Really trying to keep it together about this weather, but man I miss good ol' sunshine. If the rain could kindly just take itself back to the ocean, that would be great. We don't you here anymore rain. Go. Away.

Even Arya, the perfect smart little queen got herself wet today. Her run in is higher up, and therefor nice and dry inside. She usually spends a solid 99% of her time in here, so I'm not too worried about much affecting her.

So with everything being so wet, any kind of pressure that risked her moving above a slow walk might risk a wipe out on her part (or most likely mine). So instead I sat on an upturned bucket and read my John Lyons book while she ate her breakfast/lunch hay.

This weekend we will get a chute set up from her living area to the round pen, that has blue stone footing  and will give me the ability to really start serious work. Because her pen is in the shape of  a crescent moon, I haven't been able to get too much round penning in. There is not enough room to follow through, so if I can avoid having to go through those kinds of lessons with her until I have the proper means to do so, I will definitely try.

So not much to report. One week officially with the Queen tomorrow! I have to say it's been a pleasure! She's certainly helped me learn a lot, about horses and myself. I cannot wait to see what our journey holds for us!

Hopefully tomorrow will be blue skies and sunshine!

Till Tomorrow

-Allie 

Divalicious

Day 5

Today Arya reminded me that she was in fact still a two year old baby mustang (however perfect).

The little queen's grain has finally caught up with her, and the beginning of my morning was more urging her to burn off some energy than actual technical work.

So innocent, so sweet, not like she'd been ripping around or anything five seconds before

Today's goal was to get her more comfortable with me touching her face. We kinda sorta achieved that with the carrot stick, and I was able to get closer to her up front than I have been before. One step closer to leading! I guess the Carrot Stick is really not the pleasant, because every time I would get a solid stroke in, she would immediately turn her head to itch it on the run in or her foot, oops.

I even got my own snuggle times in! I got a few good hairballs out of her, as well as rejoicing at her newly semi-clean belly. The giant matt that was hanging from her belly finally fell off, and it has to be the biggest win yet. Yes. Maybe tomorrow if things go well I can give her an actual brushing. If we can keep training rolling like it is, hopefully I'll be able to begin leading in no time. We have changes in direction semi down, but yielding her haunches has definitely become one of the top priorities.

It's really hard being a perfect little Queen. Sometimes it just takes a bunch of yawns to express your sleepiness. Nobody understands what it takes to be this cute.

But by far, my favorite part of the day was bringing the Queen her dinner, and she actually called to me. Now of course it was because I had my arms full of hay and grain, but it still touched my wee heart. At least I know my horses like me when I feed them.

Probably Arya always.

Ride Strong!

-Allie

What an Electric Day

Day 4

Kinda literally though.

 

Today was pretty short, I spent around two hours with Arya instead of the usual 6-7 hours. I also might be writing this blog instead of an essay, but you know...

Anywho,

The day started on a time crunch, and after barn chores I practically ran to the pen. Pony time! We started pretty much where we left off yesterday night, with a good ol' fashioned rub down with the carrot stick (and a little bit with my own hands). We revisited her itchy ear, mane, and chin as well as finding the itchy spot on her tail. Those of you who are friends on Facebook probably saw the cute clip of Arya looking unamused while I used my electric blue carrot stick to touch her all over, but it's pretty stinking cool to start my day with that kind of progress. I cannot figure out how to post videos on the blog, so you'll just have to friend me and follow along there as well.

The whole goal of the day was to expand the area which I am touching, and begin to touch her face. Her face is still a hot spot, so we didn't quite get there today, which is completely okay. We took salt lick breaks in-between sessions.

She loves her Purina Free Balance® 12:12 Vitamin and Mineral Block, and her grain has even started growing on her! Now neither ever beat her hay, but at least they're in the race at this point!

This is kind of where the day's training took a turn.

Not on Arya's side of course, she's perfect.

But I, in all my graceful glory, walked my face right into an electric fence. Not that it was even a powerful one, or a particularly painful experience, but the shock (hehe) kind of killed my work ethic. Nothing like getting a blinding shock to the face to soil someone's good mood.

So, on my time crunch, I made the executive decision that one traumatic experience was good for one day, and spent the rest of our time with lunch. She got some hay, and I ate my sandwich on a next to her. Hopefully tomorrow won't suffer because of the short time period today.

 It amazes me still that in our little sessions I will ask for as little as 20%, and she comes and gives me 100%. I offer my hand she addresses it (again going with the working with her face) I'll retreat and she'll come with me!  I find it very endearing that when I release the pressure, she comes back to me within a second or two. Paying attention to her feet has also been interesting. On lunch break (Day 3) I was reading my Lyons book on how to touch the horse. You get as close as you can with the horse comfortable, but leave right before they do. If the horse walks off it's because they still have doubt in your intentions. I can't vouch for all the methods out there, but that one sure worked for me! It's really cool to have gotten this opportunity to get to work with a mustang so kind and forgiving. Though I might have shaken things up with the whole electrocuted my face freak out, lol. 

This blog wouldn't be complete without me complaining about this stupid weather. It's gross, I'm officially sick of the mud, and it's a miracle no one has wiped out yet. If the sun could just make the appearance for a solid four months that would be great thanks.

Till Tomorrow!

-Allie

Cuddle Times

Day 3 

Guess who got to pet her horse today!!

Not like yesterday, which was just a firm stroke, but like, actually get some fur out of her beautiful scuffy little queen petting.

The morning started as usual, with the queen waiting by the gate. I offered a little bit of her breakfast hay ration by hand, but decided we had it down enough that I could get away with just sitting next to the hay pile when she ate. Spending time is always my favorite part of the day. She always sticks close by, it is really astounding that even though she is practically unhandled by people, still wants to be close and friendly.

 Pictures action shots today, the weather has been continually terrible and the ground hasn't gotten a chance to dry, so moving her feet has been a careful endeavor. Today I introduced the carrot stick, hoping that if I could touch her with my body a little farther away, and it would make her more comfortable when I did go to touch her myself. Hypothesis: PROVEN. After getting over the initial new object jitters, it worked like a charm. I was able to stroke her entire shoulder, up her neck, and across her chin. I even found an itchy spot under her mane and on her left ear.

 

I almost couldn't contain myself.

She was practically asleep while I was screaming internally, completely losing my mind excited about the fact that I was so close to being able to brush her and get the nasty matts off her belly. I am positive if we keep moving at this rate that I will be brushing and beginning to lead in no time.

(There weren't even many moments like this)

There wasn't to much else that went down. I quit today's training when I was able to consistently rub on both shoulders. I didn't push too far past her comfort zone so that I can hopefully pick back up confidently tomorrow morning.

Excited to see what tomorrow holds!

Ride Strong

-Alison

Touchdown

 

Day 2

I'd like to start by expressing my amazement in this little filly. She has such a good brain, and is honestly the smartest little horse I've ever had the pleasure of working with. 

The ground was still slippery so we didn't do anything too strenuous. Another low pressure day that ended with some awesome progress!

We started the day with some clean up, she was particularly nosey, and pulled a pile of wet hay or two just to drop it on the ground. She has started eating her grain throughout the day, so we added a garlic kind of supplement to try and keep the flies away. Until we get fly spray down it is probably our best bet. I will update tomorrow whether or not she actually eats it.

Today's training consisted a lot of approach and retreat starting with hay. Yesterday night I left with her eating out of my hand, but relectuantly. Today I had her following me around the pen taking hay from my hand without much trouble. After we went through a about a flake I took a break and did some barn chores. 

  Since the hay trick was working so well, I decided to move on to try and touch her. Of course she is such a cool little horse, she was practically napping as I got closer and closer. Within a small amount of time I was able to reach out and stroke her shoulder. No drama. No freak outs. There is nothing that was going to get that dumb old smile off my face.

It wasn't her touching my boot, or my pizza box, but actually getting a hand on her shoulder. If I wasn't officially in love when I picked her up, there is no doubt in my mind that I am now. 

 

So I called it a day with the training. She got her dinner. What a fantastic end to day two. I can't wait to wake up for day 3!

Till Tomorrow!

-Allie

Rain, Rain, Go Away

 

Day 1

Today started with rain, rain and more rain.  But sweet Arya was smart, and she stayed completely dry by keeping her little Queen self in the run in with her hay. Such a smart girl. 

The rain put a limit on the amount of pressure we could apply today. The ground was saturated and I didn't want to have her ripping around and slipping. So we spent the day mostly hanging around trying to see how close we could on her terms. 

 

 She's pretty chill. 

 She even tried some grain like a big girl. She wasn't impressed, but she tried! 

Our first session consisted of me hanging around, mostly chatting while Arya ate or rested. When she got uncomfortable she would either walk in or out of her run in, I'd scoot close, and stick around for a few minutes before she'd leave again. I offered her hay, and got within a foot of her before I took a break. It took about three hours of patience, but it flew by like nothing. She is such a cool little horse. 

We took a little break so I could grab some lunch, and then came back with my pizza to hang out in the pen, but a comfortable distance from the Queen.  

On her way over to her water, she came over and sniffed my pizza box. She is so curious and intelligent it's crazy. 

She got her dinner, and I figured the way to her heart. Alfalfa. She took few little nibbles while I was just inches away, so I took it as a win and called it a day. 

She had a few visitors, and continued to maintain her model status making her appearance. She has even followed us to the gate once or twice.

Hopefully tomorrow it'll stay dry and we can get her into the round pen for some more work. 

Ride Strong!

-Allie