Two milestones

Another great session, but also some things to keep an eye on.  Panda was in the round pen and Maddie in the box pen, but when I took Panda to the far end of the arena Maddie really pushed hard into the gate and got agitated.  She was agitated in general when I came, probably because Steve was working in his wood and equipment pile at the end of the arena.

I worked on sending and got the sending in and out of the round pen gate pretty good.  I tried to send her between the round pen and the arena wall from on top of the round pen with mixed results.  I sent her over the jump and she was 100%.  I worked up to about 20" vertical and she basically has this exercise.

Back in the round pen I did mostly rope work with some backing.  She is backing off of a hard look now and no stick.  I lunged her with the rope around her back legs and she did not kick or buck this time.  The turn and go was so solid that I went ahead and saddled her up!  I worked up to it with a bit of rubbing and taking on and off, and I also used a stick to grab the girth.  But really it went easy and smooth.  I was shaking like a leaf, though!

Once it was on I did not fool around and worked her hard right away in both directions, then I started changing directions.  I thought she took the saddle very well--no bucking and really as calm as one could expect.  I rubbed her some more and then went to saddle up Panda for a pony session.

The ponying went well and I could get alongside her and rub all over and bang on the saddle.  However, she went to nip at me quite a few times while I was on Panda, which was troubling.  I could back her by shaking the lead but overall I am puzzled by this behavior.  Hope it gets better.

Brian showed up and we led both horses out of the arena, down the aisle, and outside.  We walked up to the outdoor arena and then came back.  She was leading OK but would pin her ears and try to nip at me.  I could shake her off but I had to keep an eye on her the whole time.  Have to ask Lalo how to deal with this.