Additional Thoughts on a Sunday

I have no difficulties getting Roo from pasture. He is quite aware we are going to do work by now, but he, nevertheless, in his trusting ways, always comes to meet me half way.

Today was another beautiful day in Northeastern PA. We are promised more unseasonably warm weather at the end of next week.

Today was also the first day Roo and I worked beyond 20 minutes, both with lunging and in-hand work. He actually broke a slight
sweat today so maybe my luck will now change in catching him in the field? (LOLOL)

Today Roo gave his clearest signs of being somewhat stubborn on the lunge line after being asked to work a bit longer. He is traditionally not much of a suppler on the line, but would rather free lunge. I usually do more free lunging than line lunging, but today I did the opposite to test the waters.

Well, the votes are in and he hates it! (LOL) But, I won anyway, and for the first time today he actually gave to the pressure on the line and bent inward in both directions. Normally, he tries to use his weight and power (which is quite a bit right now even at his age) to just keep on running when he doesn't want to bend. Well, today I ate my Wheaties and was prepared. I think he was surprised.

I corrected his "run out" with swift tugs to bring him back in line, then made him supple to that side and then tried again. This took five tries before he figured out I wasn't kidding, and would sweat just as much as he did to get what I wanted. Finally, he gave to the pressure and just went around me on the line. When he did it to both sides, I let him rest and gave him a great big show of affection. You could almost see him thinking this through.

When I took him off line today, I used the bag whip for the first time. Prior to this I had been using a lariat rope. But today I wanted him to learn about directional changes. That he should only do them when I wanted them and not before. Needless to say I shed quite a bit of clothing teaching him this, but in the end, he couldn't stop until he listened, and he did. I'm not sure who was more tired? Roo or me? It might have been a toss up.

After the line lunging and free lunging we did in-hand work until he cooled down (me too) and he did very well at it today. By this time one of my students, Melissa, (who is also a good friend) had come to the barn. I asked her to try walking him and asking for whoa and back, just to see what he would do with another handler. She did and he performed nicely for her, but as she was bringing him back to stand where I was, again he proved he knows me as his caretaker by moving foward to come to me on his own.

Even Melissa noted "he knows his mom."

Roo had an admirer today from another farm. This gentleman loves the Percheron cross breeds and wanted to see Roo trot and canter. He absolutely loved Roo and said I was lucky to have him. He has shown the Percheron crosses for years and loves their mind and willingness to try (and their braveness).

Speaking of braveness...Roo spooks sometimes. He does a little dance to the side when he spooks. I never spook, and I don't make much of spooking (no reaction from me) so I'm hoping he realizes that. Because I don't spook (LOL) he just comes right back to my side and walks with me. This has worked for me before with other horses.

Roo has mastered all of his in-hand commands quite well (some were refreshers I'm sure) and we are now going to master suppling on the lunge line. He should sleep well tonight!

Roo backing up