I re-watched some of the Clinton Anderson mustang videos and I could see that he had the mustang much more thoroughly desensitized than Maddie is. So I re-doubled my efforts today with the saddle, primarily the saddle and plastic bag, lots of banging on the saddle, slapping of the stirrup straps, etc. She is really making progress.
Saddling went the easiest yet, with only a slight degree of dancing. I did not work her very hard prior to putting the saddle on and it went quickly. I spent 10 minutes sending and found her looking out of the circle more than she ever has. There was a spectator and another horse being worked, so that was probably the cause. But I got her soft and then went to work with the plastic bag. I got very quickly to where I could bang on the saddle with the stick/bag combination and she was taking it very well. From here I spent probably 25 minutes on picking up off the fence. I can get her to sidepass right into the fence, even pushing into it, but she does not quite come up to me. So I was getting her along the fence and then walking backwards on the rail to get over her back. I got to where I could slap the saddle from on top of her and rub her all over. Did not try weighting the saddle but for sure tomorrow.
Spent another 10 minutes standing up in one stirrup and getting off, both sides. My timing was not the best but she's getting the idea of standing still. Overall she is getting so much calmer. The head down cue is really coming along and she's starting to hold her head like a quarter horse. I'm really pleased with everything.
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