Claire: Cantering for the First Time!

I cantered Claire today for the first time! Actually it was so funny because when she saw me put the fanny pack on around my waist, she figured out that we were going to do some 'clicker training' from yesterday and she practically jogged to the arena. Normally she stops several times and I have to pull her to the side to get her out of her, "But I don't want to go!" mood. When I got on I flexed her several times and then went right into moving the hindquarters. I clicked each time she responded with moving her hindquarters, and then rewarded her with a treat and she loved it! At first I wasn't sure if she was making the connection, so I decided not to get impatient and move onto something else. The funniest thing was when we started moving out and trotting, she immediately went into the canter, and I think it was because I worked her so much yesterday in the canter transition and with the clicker training on the lunge line. So I just brought her down and worked on the canter departure. She took the canter most every time-- and sometimes immediately-- and of course I used my clicker and 'clicked' and then let her lope a little and then rewarded her with a treat. After the first few times of stopping her after she picked up the canter, I decided to wait a little longer and 'click' after she cantered for awhile. It worked beautifully, and now Claire absolutely loves to canter. In fact several times, she would want to take off with a fast trot-- (I am assuming to work into a canter) and I had to gently remind her who was in charge. It was alot of fun to see her working so hard to earn the 'click.' After some canter work we rode out (no other horses) in the front and back yard. She walked a little faster than normal, but on the whole was very calm. After that we walked back in arena and I used my 'clicker' to ask her to lower her head with me taking the slack up off of one rein. Everytime she lowered her head, I 'clicked' and then stopped her and gave her a treat. She did understand, and got better, but this is something we will work on everytime I ride her. Teaching her to lower head and keep it below the withers. If you notice her loping, she is carrying her head low and though she is not at all collected, she did great for the first canter.

Problems:

The only problem is that Claire is not wanting to pick up the right lead-- on the lunge line or under saddle. When I took her last week to get her knees x-rayed, Dr. Thoni said she had two bone spurs on the knee from a previous injury. I called him today and he said they will eventually round out, and not bother her, but to not ask for the right lead or lope in right lead circles for 90 days. I will do this and probably put her on Lubrysim-- a supplement I have Spencer on.

Annie:

Poor Annie she wanted to come out and play so bad, that she kept trying to open the gate with her head. After I was finished with Claire, I worked briefly with Annie on target training and the 'clicker.' She is probably the smartest one so far on picking up the target training. She remembered from the day before and would reach high, low, around to her side,--- all to touch the 'target' (swimming pool noodle) and then hear the 'click' and then she would look to me for the treat. She is the most motivated I have seen to get a treat. I even put the swimming pool noodle down on the pavement and stepped away. She walked over to it, touched, (then bit it) and then turned around to me when she heard the 'click' and was rewarded with a treat.