So much better

Thanks to Evensong for suggesting I get back on the horse today. Also for the rest of the comments, because my husband read them all (without my asking) and he felt it was important that we go out again today.

I was feeling so depressed and unsure I went to my bedroom, looked at my breeches and just sat there, unwilling to put them on, for 5 minutes.

Also, my arms are killing me from our tug of war yesterday, putting on clothes is painful, especially my left arm, because that was the whip arm of our difficult direction.

I am so grateful Mag is easy to tack up, he grabs the bit happily and never moves when I saddle him or girth him up. I was shaking my head, "How can he be so easy to saddle, and so impossible out there."

As we led Mag down the street, it was obvious that every German person is outdoors today enjoying the sunny Sunday. An entire family was behind us, talking and laughing and taking photos. Mag was very disturbed by them. More disturbed than I've seen him in ages. He couldn't fathom why they were matching our pace so perfectly. He was actually walking down the street sideways, so he could keep an eye on them. And snorting the entire time. Oh boy. I think Mag thought these people would follow us the rest of his life. I said to him, "Pretend you're in a parade." *lol* Finally we arrived at the trail head and they passed us while I tightened the saddle. Mag's eyes were huge, staring and snorting at them as they passed. I said, "Pedestrians. Fussgaenger."

I said to J, "He's either gonna be worse or better today, and I'm dreading finding out."

Today we did almost exactly the same thing as yesterday, but not quite as intense.

I didn't ask Mag to stop quite as often, and I rewarded him for even briefly standing still. I'd ask every 50 meters or so.

I was cracking up because of Aarene's comment that she never could finish the phrase "Good boy" because by the time she said good, the horse was fidgeting again.

Every time I was able to say the whole phrase I laughed and said, "I got to the end of it!"

But he was so much better, he stood longer than the simple phrase and really seemed to get the lesson/routine. Every so often he'd try to grab the rein but he only actually got it once.

He coughed for a while and every cough made me so insecure because he'd throw his back in the air, I thought he was thinking of dumping me but no, just coughing.

He tried head tossing at one point to show his agitation but J kept me in constant conversation, asking me to tell him about Big Bang Theory episodes. That kept me laughing and when we passed a fish pond with people having a campfire (Did they ask the police? I'm not allowed to have a fire in my yard!) Mag got to see flames up close for the first time, and walk through smoke, but it was no big deal.

A couple times while stopped he started to do that backing evasion but I said "Ah ah ah" and J tugged him forward with the rope at the same time. Perfect teamwork.

A string of mountain bikers approached us and I was worried that they'd try to pass us on a narrow trail, but they all stopped for us. I said a loud "Danke!" and "Young horse" and the first guy said, "Old biker." and I laughed. People are so nice around here, mostly, cars go by so slowly around Mag, I have to laugh, "That driver saw impending vehicular damage!"

J fixed his geocache again and Mag stood like a statue - with me on the ground - the entire time. Then I got back on and we made Mag hold still after mounting for a long time again.

On the way home Mag wasn't as relaxed, but we kept our conversation going. We stopped maybe 4 times on the way home. Then for the finale - the spot where he fruck out yesterday. I was not looking forward to that again.

Today in that spot he stood still! I didn't push it, I only waited a few long breaths before jumping off, and praising him enthusiastically, even rubbing under his bridle, and loosening the girth too. J rubbed his head so he was quite sure he was a wonderful horse.

On the way home we walked slowly and Mag stayed well behind us politely and even dropped on the way home, showing his state of relaxation. I said, "Mag, the children!"

Once home I untacked and opened the gate, whistling for them to follow me. I took them all the way to the bit of pasture by the street and opened that gate for them to enjoy the massive amount of new grass there. Much nicer than the rest of the pasture!

I love opening that area up on a Sunday when people are out nordic walking and carriage driving and bike riding and Mag gets to see all that close up.

I'm so relieved and happy right now, I feel like if we can get through this, we can do anything. I never bothered to teach Baasha to hold still, so it has become a priority for me with the others. Mara was super at it because her favorite gait out there was stuck in balk. Mag will have to get this, and I have hope that he will.