Mustang Saga

Thanks for the sympathy about my toe injury. I finally thought to ice it yesterday, did it on and off all evening. This morning it was so much better! I'm still a little gimpy but not too bad. I didn't let it keep me down.

I realized I have less than 2 weeks until Mustang Days, where we're entered in the Walk/Trot, Halter, and Trail classes. (If you're near Spokane WA and want to participate or come watch, I'd be happy to pass on the details to you!) I figured I darn well better get to work. So today we worked on obstacles and de-spooking. Let's see... What did we do... Flagged with a cloth flag and a plastic flag. Flapped my yellow rain slicker all over him and had him carry it around. Walked over barrels laid on their sides. Backed between two barrels in a straight line. He gets so worried about that one I didn't try for the figure 8 today. Walked over two different colors of hoses and a couple ropes. Flapped a white paper Macy's bag all over him. Dragged a tarp next to and behind him, careful to turn him so he got the full effect of it coming against his butt and leg. Wrapped the slicker around his legs and asked him to walk. I was hoping he'd drag it with his foot, he worries about things caught on his legs, but he just stepped out of it. I think I'll tie something to his foot and walk him. Maybe contractor's tape, then work up to something heavier. I was hoping to ride after the kids got home from school (everything we did was from the ground) but that didn't work out because we had an away softball game.

Before we left I got some pictures of our fun games.

"Yeah Ma, this is getting old. Yawn."

"Mmmm-hmmm, I can do it this direction too. Sigh."

"Two colors & sounds, yep. I wonder what this tastes like?"

"Hey Ma, I'm not sure I really need all this rain gear."

"This is kinda tickly."

I'll be adding more strands to my "cowboy curtain" but wanted to start simple. I think I'm going to try to find some caution tape, and maybe throw in some rope scraps tied together or something...

I also want to work with a plastic bag (which he finds most tasty) full of cans (which he hasn't encountered before) and a bottle of rattly rocks. This is so much fun! Ooh, maybe my brother-in-law will let me borrow his bull whip? That would be a good tool for getting used to loud noises. I need to make a bridge too. Maybe tomorrow I'll find time.

Does anyone else have any ideas for de-spooking and obstacles to play with?