Exciting session

Today I repeated the session from yesterday with just a couple of change-ups.  Maddie & Panda both spent the night in stalls (Maddie's first time!) and it was no problem leading Maddie down the barn aisle and into the arena.  I brought Panda in and tied her to the rail.  Maddie kept spooking at something on the rails where I have my gear piled up and I just could not get her to send well between me and this wall of scary things.  It went OK but was never as soft and reliable as yesterday.  I also sent her into and out of the round pen door with so-so results.  Very sticky.

In the larger arena I setup my lunging jump standard with some ground poles and sent her back and forth over it.  I had to lead her over this the first couple of times before I could send her.  She was excitable and kept running behind me a bit--I was a little out of my zone today.  But I was happy to start this exercise.  She jumped the ground poles a couple of times and looked pretty.

Practiced backing a couple of times and found her getting a little sticky.  I think she is really going to need this exercise--have to remember to keep working on it.

Back in the round pen I sat on the top rail again and sent her back and forth.  This time I could reach down and pet her head fairly easy, but could not get her to really come alongside me.  But she improved.

Back on the ground I worked with the long rope on desensitizing.  Got it around her barrel for the first time and she did well.  I had trouble developing the turn and go exercise so I finally sent her to the rail and flipped the rope around her haunches.  She really took off but also really learned something.  I did this both sides and I really think it helped her.  Back in the middle I could flip the rope around her haunches without too much excitement and get her to turn out of it.  I really think this exercise is helpful in calming horses down, although it can be unnerving the first few times it's performed.

I did a quick pony session from on top of Panda again.  I had to use my stick to grab the lead rope again, and when I stuck the stick in front of her chest she struck out once, the only time today.  Ponying her felt very solid and safe and I could rub her all over.  Wish I had thought to try trotting.

We turned out Panda into the round pen with Maddie for the afternoon and there were some fireworks.  I suspect Maddie was a dominant mare in her old herd.  Panda is a dominant mare also and let Maddie have it with both barrels.  Maddie backed down without getting hurt.  To freak us all out one more time, Maddie rolled on her back and got her feet stuck through the railing.  Brian ran over to pull the panels apart while she was flailing on the ground but she managed to get out of it without hurting herself.