Gia - session 151 - Another outing at CDP, and an Angus sighting!
Gia loaded on the trailer very easily today. So, next week, I will most likely do a video of her in shipping boots for the first time. Stay tuned!
Gia walked on the hot walker while I rode Butch, and then tied, uneventfully, to the trailer while I tacked her up, despite the mowing and weedeating going on around her.
I lunged her at the walk and trot today to warm up. This was the most relaxed she has been since she's been coming to CDP! I also noticed that she started out a little stiff, and not really pushing from behind, which is kind of what I've been feeling under saddle lately. I pushed her to trot a little bigger, and to use herself, and to stretch down and that really helped a lot. I think she's been stiff from not using herself as much, and just needs to work it out.
Once that was good, I walked her around the arena. I sat and perused my phone for missed messages and emails whenever she seemed tense about a certain area, namely the gazebo. Charlie commented that I should do the same thing with Butch. I commented back that no matter how much I desensitize Butch, he will probably never get over his gazebo phobia. I think Charlie agreed. ☺
We were able to get all the way around the arena, in one direction, only having to stop and hang out in a couple of spots. When I rode in those areas today, they were much better too! My only real problem area under saddle was the far corner where a car, and the little dog, Angus, were hanging out.
I spent a lot of time at the walk - circling when needed, corners, diagonal lines and centerlines, and LOTS of stretching down. She gave me her best free walk yet! Then I trotted the same routine. Other than the car and Angus, there was just one jump that bothered her, so we will spend a little time hanging out there next time.
While riding, Susan commented that, no offense to Butch, but she thought Gia was a much nicer horse! I do think she's got him beat in the flat work. We'll have to wait and see about the jumping though. ☺
Gia was a little hesitant to load on the trailer, and I don't think she liked the fans that I turned on for her (yet). She did quite a lot of piaffeing at traffic lights, but she was fairly quiet when I got home.
Gia walked on the hot walker while I rode Butch, and then tied, uneventfully, to the trailer while I tacked her up, despite the mowing and weedeating going on around her.
I lunged her at the walk and trot today to warm up. This was the most relaxed she has been since she's been coming to CDP! I also noticed that she started out a little stiff, and not really pushing from behind, which is kind of what I've been feeling under saddle lately. I pushed her to trot a little bigger, and to use herself, and to stretch down and that really helped a lot. I think she's been stiff from not using herself as much, and just needs to work it out.
Once that was good, I walked her around the arena. I sat and perused my phone for missed messages and emails whenever she seemed tense about a certain area, namely the gazebo. Charlie commented that I should do the same thing with Butch. I commented back that no matter how much I desensitize Butch, he will probably never get over his gazebo phobia. I think Charlie agreed. ☺
We were able to get all the way around the arena, in one direction, only having to stop and hang out in a couple of spots. When I rode in those areas today, they were much better too! My only real problem area under saddle was the far corner where a car, and the little dog, Angus, were hanging out.
I spent a lot of time at the walk - circling when needed, corners, diagonal lines and centerlines, and LOTS of stretching down. She gave me her best free walk yet! Then I trotted the same routine. Other than the car and Angus, there was just one jump that bothered her, so we will spend a little time hanging out there next time.
While riding, Susan commented that, no offense to Butch, but she thought Gia was a much nicer horse! I do think she's got him beat in the flat work. We'll have to wait and see about the jumping though. ☺
Gia was a little hesitant to load on the trailer, and I don't think she liked the fans that I turned on for her (yet). She did quite a lot of piaffeing at traffic lights, but she was fairly quiet when I got home.
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