July 27, 2008

Back to frustration time. Some days I just really wonder what I'm doing. Last night, I turned Billie out into the round pen. After she was hanging out awhile and eating grass, I decided to go into the round pen with her just to hang out. After a few minutes, she decided to get wild. She made right for me, shaking her head and being silly. I shooed her away (thank goodness I remembered to take the whip in with me), and she veered off. She circled and tried this again. When she was past me, I made for the gate and got out of there.

I watched her as she ran circles around the pen, kicking and bucking. This lasted about 5 minutes, I think. Really, I don't think she was doing anything to me. I think that she just felt like being silly, and since she sees me as a playmate, I think she was inviting me to romp with her. Problem here is that I'm NOT a playmate, nor do I want her viewing me in this manner.

I "tricked" her to get her to go back into her small pen a while later.

Tonight, I tried some of our leading in the smaller pen, thinking to lead her out into the round pen. It was not so good tonight. I think she was distracted with Charles there, whom I'd asked for assistance. She also had not had her dinner, and I'm finding it always goes better when she's been fed before training times. Bummer for me. I did not get back out tonight--life just got in the way.

I'm going to borrow a friend's Clinton Anderson tape on working with young horses. I hope I find some help there. I also think I will order a rope halter her size. I really think a rope halter solves a lot of issues. She's just too small for any that I can buy locally, and I suck at making them.