Saturday and Sunday

When I show up at the barn on Saturday, they greet me with the news that Bailey has broken her gate and ran down the path, over the concrete bridge and out onto the street. Seems that they were taking all of the mares to the pasture and left her halter down there, so Ramon past her up and went for another horse in the back pasture. She was not happy and broke her gate (held together with rust old clips), but she did act out.

I worked with Little Doc and we had a great session, he was listening and doing squeeze game, yo yo and friendly quiet well. I lunged him and had him go sideways a little for me. We went down and went over the concrete bridge (slowly, but over we went) He was right behind me all the way. LOL

Then I went and got Bailey, she was quiet and I did notice that she is not allowed on the hay bale until Ginger is done eating. So she is hungry to say the least. I didn't have time to do the 7 games (which I should have), I put the saddle on her and bit. This is the first time I have rode her in the bit and she was really tossing her head and eating everything on the trail. I felt the saddle was not right, and the ride was not fun at all. Then I had to leave the barn because people were coming to see the puppies.

Saturday later
Just as I got home, the people text ed and said they were not coming. I was very upset with having to leave the barn early.

Sunday

I went to the barn around 1:00 and set up some jumps for Bailey and we did the games and she was very responsive. Doesn't like me to put the saddle on and tries to bite with the girthing. I do take the time to girth, but she is starting swinging her head towards me. I don't put the riser pad on under the saddle and it is a little better, but still not right on her. We go out into the woods and she is again trying to eat everything. I ride out into the field and she is calling to her horse friends in the field, she is a little antsy. we go back in the arena and I do some more point to point and shorten my stirrup and then out to the round pen to trot. My posting is so off. She keeps stopping and I have some real bumpy moments. After trying that for awhile, I decided to go off the property. AS we walk down the path, I tell her not to even hesitate at the concrete bridge, because we both know she can run right over it. We go over the bridge with confidence and out the drive. I come upon a 4 foot wide 3 " deep mud muddle and we are going to go through it. The mare says "I don't think so" Now this is the mare that walks through a creek everyday to eat hay and back to go into the barn.

I tried to get her through with the pick a focus point and squeeze. Nothing,
Tried the go button, nothing. Finally got off and unhooked my reins and started hitting the go button on the ground. Nothing. If she moved, it was into pressure. I was very upset and then I made the statement "It is not about the puddle" and looked at her face and she was not frighten at all, head down, eyes blinking, chewing and all. I finally started tapping the should and for every foot forward, I stopped tapping. We finally (45 minutes later) got through the first time. We did repeat it several times in just a few taps. Mare was asking Why do I have to do this for you. She was testing my leadership all the way.