Saturday, December 03, 2011

It was bitterly cold today but I got a lot done anyway. I've had this fencing project that's been undone for a couple years. I finally had to revise my plan for how to finish it so I could do it by myself, and I finished it today. Yay! It looks so much better. Actually, now that I think about it, there's more to be done, but the part I wanted done, the part that looked the most trashy, is nice and cleanly finished.

Then I got the truck charged up and started. I don't know what's going on with it. I'm crossing my fingers that it was a one time thing, but it's fairly similar to something it did last year and it ended up having to be fixed.

After doing some housework I finally got to go out and play with the horses. Tonka was standing out in the pasture looking uncomfortable so I left him alone. I went out to the other group of horses and haltered Grace, then petted her and let her go.

When I got Scout out he was a changed horse compared to yesterday. He gave me a small amount of attitude but he did everything I asked. And then I realized something. Maybe he wasn't giving me attitude. He was doing it on his right side, the side with the bad eye. He kept turning his head in toward me and bobbing it up and down as he trotted on a circle. Not in an, "I want to offer to come in," sort of way. It looked naughty. Maybe it was naughty. But I'm also wondering if he was just trying to see me better by getting his left eye on me. I decided to give him the benefit of the doubt and just ask him to continue on. We'll see what we see next time I work with him.

As I was about to saddle up I got a call from a very nice lady who is interested in Grace. She has mustang experience, is specifically looking for a mustang, and is very interested in taking her. After we talked I sent her a video and we'll see. She was supposed to call back tonight and now I'm getting worried. I had high hopes...

Grace was awesome for her video experience. First I just asked her to trot around the round pen at liberty to show that she's sound. Then I did some basic body control and asked for her feet. I wrapped the lead rope around her hind feet for the first time and asked her to lift them. No problem. No kicking or over-reaction. Eventually I picked up her hind feet with my hand for the first time. What a good girl! And her hooves are in remarkably good shape for being left alone for so long. She's going to make someone a really good horse.

1 comment:

Margaret said...

I think you are SO wise to ground work before riding. I have a "good boy" but I am often surprised what comes out during our ground work!