Play After Work

Official Records Information
Misty
6/28/10
<45 minutes
evening

I worked 12 hours today, starting at 7:30 a.m. and then I did not get to the farm until about 8:00 p.m. Since I was gone all weekend on the Ohio trip, this was my first time seeing my horses since last Friday! I have, of course, been thinking about them all weekend because it was a Parelli tour stop. I decided to play with Misty tonight since I had not really had an active play session with her last week because of her inflamed tendon and my work schedule. I started with my routine of sitting for 5 minutes, but that 5 minutes turned into 10 because I had to teach Elle how to keep her wrist straight as she swung the carrot stick ("the more joints you have hinging, the less continuity you have across swings" is a good rule for beginners with the carrot stick). Eventually, I was finally back into place on the dusty ground. Then I realized I forgot my bag of treats, so I filled a bag and clipped it around my hips and returned to the pasture. Misty was very interested in me now that I was going "rustle rustle" with pellets. In order to counter her over eagerness to get a treat, or rather, in order to not use the rustling as a bribe, I set up a puzzle with the halter. I arced my arm with the halter split between my hands and invited her to put her head under my arm and into the halter. Initially, she said "Um, this game isn't fun anymore!" but we quickly made progress. I don't think it will be long before she sees me do this with my arm and the halter and comes right over.

Once she was haltered, I did some one line driving from zone 5 with the green ball. She sure does love that thing! It gives her so much confidence. I would really like to progress her randomr pushing into directed pushing. Sometimes she gets it in her mind to push it to me. . . maybe I could make that work for us. Hmmm. . .

Next, I wanted to drive her to something else. I decided that the carrot stick, laying on the ground, would be a new one. Well, I had no idea how long I would have to wait before the success, but, just like this past weekend, I could see every thought going through Misty's head, and so, the wait just is not boring. I was completely hanging on every movement and facial expression she made. I did a sort of yoyo game with her. She eventually knew that I was driving her to something, but did not know what. I would drive her back to a post then reapproach the prostrate Carrot Stick. I could have porcupined her head down, but that would have ruined the success when I saw the light go on in her eyes and she asked me tentatively "This?" BINGO! Cookie! I foresee this as being a task that will help her get her gears going and her mind focused--this driving to something small on the ground.

Natural Horsewoman Out.