And again - is this the same horse from Saturday?

I finally got permission to take Mag to the Hawaiian Silver arena at the top of the hill. The owners are persnickety and I'm not invited as often as I'd like. I jumped at the chance finally and put on the surcingle (simply so he could carry his own lunge line).

Halfway there we encountered a lady riding a big WB and as I parked Mag to the side of the trail, I realized his immobility was spooking her horse. She had to get off and drag him toward us. I moved him around a bit to calm her horse and Mag thought this was the strangest thing that has ever happened to him - a horse, approaching, on the trail of patience. I said to the lady, "We scared each other pretty good, didn't we!" (Blade Runner)  and she said, "I had to get off, good that your horse is grey." I wondered at the fact that she spoke to me informally at first, and then wondered what grey has to do with anything. Then I realized she was able to see us from a distance and dismount. In my opinion it is never OK to speak informally to a stranger, even if we happen to both like horses. Formality is indispensable in German culture.

Mag was surprised when we went onto the arena property, through their bungee electric gate, but when I entered their big professional looking barn to get my lunge whip that lives there, he waltzed right in. "Hey, big barn, I know barns." He didn't even snort, which he does for everything.

Out and around the corner were the Arab and TB in their outdoor paddocks. They both nickered at him and he thought, "Oh how cool!"

We entered the arena and I proceeded with my well-thought-out plan. First I'd use the NH line to get some nice walk circles. When he refused and tried to switch directions, I corrected him easily with the end of the rope.

He had this look on his face like, "I have a horsey audience. That is not bad."

Once satisfied with about 10 circles each direction, I switched to the lunge line and prayed, "Let's just do the same now. Just walk."

I needed him to know that lunging is not about racing around, and especially, especially not ripping out my arms heading for Niedersachsen. I'm still in pain today.

I needed him to stay calm and go slow, as slow as possible but learn the rules of lunging.

He walked on calmly to the left, his easy way, and only jumped into a trot briefly when a tractor dragged the field directly beside us.

Whenever he trotted on his own, I stopped walking with him and tried to explain that walking is preferred, which he did.

Then we switched directions and I could see him sucking back, thinking about slamming on the brakes and going left again. I kept my focus on his hip, and continued walking with him, but I knew he was going to test me again.

And again. He did about 4 times, but I had his line short - it was only a 10 meter circle, so I could effectively correct him and get him going right again without him freaking out like Saturday. I must say, if you're having trouble lunging a horse, having a smaller circle seems to be the key to everything. (Further update - having an ENCLOSURE really helps too.)

I did a few reverses and he's still sketchy about them, not knowing exactly what I mean when I step over my whip (cue 1) and switch my line hand (cue 2) and then walk toward him pointing the other way (cue 3).

He took some hand holding but was improving.

Every so often as we moved around the arena (I wanted to use the entire place) he'd glance at a dressage letter, or a cone, or a brightly colored ground pole, but it was only a glance, never a reaction. What a brave horse for a new place, a hilltop windy noisy place that is so difficult, was impossible for Mara no matter how often we went there.

I got cocky and clucked for a trot. He swung immediately into a lovely jog - with just my voice cue plus me walking more energetically, no whip at all - and although he wasn't reaching out, he eventually dropped his head to the ground and relaxed into it. I must say, I never got a true medium trot from him. It was always a nice jog, which I'll take, I mean, my goal for the day was calm and slow.

Amazingly there was no hint of laziness in the horse, I never had to use the whip except as a visual block when he'd rebel against my direction choice. I cracked it only once, when he rebelled the second time.

Down transitions are hard for him - perhaps he was only lunged roughly, vaguely, in the past. If I stop moving my feet and drop my shoulders and say "Walk" he stops immediately. But in only a few iterations of me waving the whip gently behind him and indicating continue, he started to get it.

Then I asked for a change of direction and as beautifully as Baasha, he calmly turned in one smooth motion, in complete clarity of understanding the request "reverse."

Except I think I forgot to say it *lol*

I whoa'd him and walked up to him and told him he was wonderful, and that was it.

He stood at the arena gate perfectly motionless. I remembered precisely how opposite Mara was there - I wanted to get a drink of water after riding her there, but I couldn't actually drink my water because she was fidgeting all over the place. I had to have someone hold her so I could get a drink.

I hope so much this is the horse I think it is. Reasonable, non-reactive. Able to stand at the gate and let me put my jacket on again.

Today he was.


Pics from yesterday. I hid in the hippy lot to take photos of them hopefully without them noticing. This is the bit of pasture they're not often allowed on, right next to the street.







Jogger.



This shows his tiny hip. You can see that his chest is way more massive than his hind end. even for an Arabian. It's fine with me, as long as he can propel himself forward.



As careful as I was, he discovered me in the bushes.



I know you're there, and it's weird!



Just stop hiding! OK then, I went inside.