Beginnings

Its a joy to meet new horses and Scirocco is no exception ! He is curious, bold, almost playful, basically a gentleman (just a little pushy now and again) and best of all a vaccum cleaner! Always need one of those in the herd.

He is basically with the herd now although I still separate the bunch, but doesn't seem to matter who I separate him with. Yesterday he and Rosie got their own field and Rosie wasn't so happy with that so got to galloping the field looking for a way to the others so Scirocco went along for awhile. He finally decided that was way too much running up and down the hill and stopped to eat while Rosie still ran a bit.

I like taking the new ones for walks at first, no pressure, to find out who they are, what they react to, how they look to me, find some yummy grass, let them make choices. Scirocco was hesitant at first to go by himself, but then thought that it was interesting. We made it out to the street and stood there watching the cows acoss the way. He was great, until he decided it was time to head for home and he got a bit anxious. As we marched back through the trees I played follow the feel game, basically going on opposite sides of a tree and he then needed to stop, turn around and follow the feel of the rope. First tree got him confused, second tree the light bulb went off, third tree I had to trick him to go on both sides as he figured out the game! He forgot about his anxiety and we had a nice walk back!

Second play day we went to the arena. I found that "na, I don't think I want to go that way" So I worked on the go button and by the time we got to the arena he understood me. Smart boy.

First job we have is to get him a bit softer from head to tail. He has a fairly long body and hasn't had much need to use it correctly. Here is a set of intake pictures, maybe not the best as I did them without help...

Notice he is mostly got his head above his withers and his feet under his belly, and his belly is drooping. What we are aiming to change is to get him to stand square, legs straight down, and head level, back /belly up.

I was feeling out his responsiveness to suggestions and also working through being in the arena for the first time, we made a little progress, again I can see he is willing but is also a matter of building relaxation, flexibility and muscle.

I then did a little work with the stick and bag! Mostly he didn't mind, but on the off side he got worried, in the end he found out how to get me to stop! head down and relax!