A Tribute to Spencer

Okay, so now I have a new addiction-- in addition to riding horses---movie making! I just spent all day making a movie of clips of Spencer and Hillary.


It can be found on:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nmHGKP0Xu8s


I did not ride Claire today. I have decided to ride her no more than 3-4 times a week. She really wanted to go with me today. When I was leading Annie out to the arena, she got between Annie and I and backed into Annie and was ready to kick her to keep Annie from going with me.

Here is what I did on Annie:

1. I tried to work her in the round pen, but she and I got very frustrated. It got to the point where she was not listening to me at all, and was running like a wild comanche around the pen and not even stopping when I said, "whoa!" Finally I got the lunge line and went back to basics just working on 'whoa!'

2. I was successfully in reteaching her what 'whoa' meant, but not without alot of jerking her the lead line when she would not stop when I said 'whoa.' Yeah, I kinda regret now not working with her more. I think she just got very worried when I started moving her around in the round pen at a canter. She is definitely more high spirited than Claire.

3. I tied her up for about 30 minutes while I took some video of Hillary. Afterwards I worked at despooking her with the big blue exercise ball. I bounced it all around her and against her. She wasn't concerned in the least. I then took my lunge whip and slapped the ground hard on both sides her. That caused her at first to want to move out, but she finally calmed down.


4. I really got the most frustrated on trying to get her to move out of my space and move to the right when I was standing at her left shoulder. I really got to frustrated with her because I ended up having to tap her harder on the neck with the lunge stick than I wanted to, to get her to move off her shoulder. Finally she took a step.


I learned a hard lesson today. I tend to be more impatient with Annie than Claire. I will change this. I spent along time afterwards just combing and brushing Annie. I am determined to start over with her and establish a good working relationship. I think Annie just doesn't want to leave me and is very insecure traveling out on her own and having to work. I will make this work!