It was raining so hard that the field and driveway was nothing but water rivers and lots of puddles to walk in.
Jeryln and I took Bailey out to the water and practiced the crossings. First is to find the sticky feet (threshold) and then ask forward one foot at a time. Stop and release for each foot. Get her to stand in the middle without going forward to get her hind legs out.
She was doing great, and we even backed her out of the water and then forward. Sent her through each puddle. She was a Super Star.
Because she has issues with her hind legs, Jeryln desensitized her legs with using a big soft lead rope and went up and down her legs. She was pretty reactive to the right hind, but not as much on the left.
We then took her into the arena and worked with the barrel and having her touch it was nose, front feet and then the back. Again she had troubles with the back legs.
Jeryln then started the friendly game with a muck bucket. Starting in zone 1 and the up on the shoulder, over the withers and down on the rear end and rubbing it all over her. Finally passing the bucket over and under her to me. Then I did the same thing on the other side. She will need me to do this with the ball and get it to bounce off her and at her legs.
We put the bridle on her and adjusted the bit (1 wrinkle) and she was very cool with this. It was harder to take it off then but in. I have to remember to use my thumb to get her to accept the bit. always put the off ear in the brindle first.
Saddle was next and there was a spot right in the middle that had no contact. So she slid a piece of the yoga pad under the beginning of the knee roll to the strip bar and it make a big difference in how I was sitting in the saddle. I then rode around much more balanced on the balanced point. I even trotted her much easier.
It was a wonderful lesson. In spite of the monsoon
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