July 29th...
Serenity here again....I worked Encore this morning, but wanted to work him again tonight. He needed to be fly sprayed again, but I wanted to do some desensitizing exercises with him first to set him up for success with the fly spray. I hoped to do this out in the yard, but he just couldn't grasp it, so in the arena we went.
Encore remembered the morning lesson very quickly. A couple minutes of swinging the stick & string and he was standing stock still for the fly spray. I led him back to the trailer, tied him up. Put boots on all four legs. He's only had the front boots on a couple times and has never had hind boots on.
Normally a horse will kick and stomp when they have hind boots on for the first time. Encore never moved. Once he was totally booted, I walked him away from the trailer. Of course there were some funny steps but he got over it and we went back to the trailer. On with the saddle...halter around the neck, bridle (bit) on.... it took a couple attempts with the bridle, but nothing dramatic.
I wasn't planning to ride Encore really, just work on his mounting.
When Puddin' started Encore he stood great for mounting, but Encore has decided to cheat and walk off now.
I didn't spend much time mounting/dismounting, but I did get him to stand still for the mounting... he still needs more time learning to be patient once you're mounted. He waits a few seconds and wants to walk off. The goal is for him to wait for the cue to go forward.
Back to the trailer we went, off with the saddle, bridle and boots. A grooming and fly spray again. I did untie him to spray him, but never took him away from the trailer. He was perfect.
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