Mustang Saga

There's a wind coming in from the east that's full of smoke and dust. Anchor isn't too fond of wind, but he's not a total basketcase by any means. Just sometimes it makes his work with me a little harder for him. He contains himself well, but not quite as well as usual.

Anchor made a lot of good progress today. No leg work, I decided to concentrate on the halter. I visualized how I put a halter on and thought of the steps I need to take to make that okay for him. I don't know how I'll ever get it over his nose. Not that I'm even anywhere near trying that yet. I rubbed him with the bunched up halter on both sides and then let it out to flop around on his neck and chest while I scratched him. I got as far forward as I could. It kind of flicked him between his jawbones underneath and boy did he not like that! I scratched there with just my hand instead. Same thing on the side of his jaw. The halter rope near his eye made him skittish.

Then I hung the halter in my left hand as I do when about to put on the halter, scratched under his neck, and ran my right hand up over his neck and scratched there. I can't press my body too close to him, so my two hands couldn't meet on the other side, but I think the almost hug that we did do is awesome progress. And he really wasn't nervous about it at all. I was surprised.

The thing that bothered him the most today: brushing. I decided to try brushing him. He's kinda grody. Flaky skin and dirt. He didn't like the weird rhythmic pressure and brushing motion. It only took a few minutes though before I saw signs that he actually liked it. Cool.

Oh, and another thing, he's getting one-sided again. Most of my work has been on his left, because of the halter stuff. I need to fix that.

After working with Anchor I moved Scout in with the old horses. He's such a sweetheart. He's like my puppy, happy to follow. He's been hanging out at the gate wanting something to do. When things settle down around here I think I'll start ponying him.