stuff to work on

I went over to the barn after teaching my spin class and together Chuck & I let Maddie out into one of his pastures, along with Chuck's morab, Moses.  We put the other two, more dominant horses into the other pasture.  Maddie did great and there were no fireworks.  After 30 minutes we put Maddie into her stall and everyone else back into the mud lot.

Around 3:00 I came back and went out on the trails with Chuck on Moses.  We took the river trail and I spent some time working Maddie around trees while Chuck walked ahead.  Along 7 mile road we picked up the canter and Maddie bolted when a noisy truck came by.  I had to circle into a wheat field to get her under control.  Not my favorite thing to do on a horse!  But she calmed down quickly after that, and it only took a half-circle to get her walking.  But there were some serious gallop steps in there, I assure you.

A little further along we took a string of at least 8 jumps in the woods, which Maddie really did an amazing job on.  These were all log-sized jumps, but it still felt great going over them.  She waited for them and did not over jump.  She also timed her takeoff well at the canter.  Unfortunately, a herd of horses (the same herd that rattled us a couple of days ago) could see us in the woods and came galloping by the fence line, which was only 50 feet away.  Maddie picked up on their energy and I had to ask Chuck to come to a walk to stop Maddie from tearing away from me.  We ended up on Moses' rump, but no harm done.  To get out of there we had to walk directly along the fence line, which was difficult for Maddie to do.  The herd was tearing around and she was really feeding off of it.  I had to sidepass Maddie to keep her in hand.

After we got back to the barn, I went out alone with Maddie to start working on her weaknesses.  She is showing a real lack of confidence in the lead, so I wanted her to be by herself for a bit.  When alone, she can spook at strange things and sometimes I find us cutting off the corner of a field, Maddie sidepassing her way around something that doesn't look right to her.  At certain points it was just about impossible to get her moving at all.  At other times, we could trot or canter with ease.  I am also finding that her bend and one-rein stop are very poor when she is like this.  So I am going to really work on her confidence and her impulsion this week.  Overall, my plan is to hold off on working her in any arenas for a few days and get her trail work while alone better.  She needs to give me bend whenever I ask for it, hold her gaits, be able to trot in small circles, and go forward whenever I ask.

During one stretch, I picked up the left lead (her favorite lead is her right) and after about ten strides she began cross cantering and was really stuck there.  We also saw her cross canter earlier in the day when she was turned out in the pasture.

When I got back, the 3 horses were out in a pasture together and I put Maddie out there with them.  None of the horses paid her any attention and they were all happily munching on grass together.  Chuck & I decided to try putting them all together in the mud lot for the night.  Diego, the alpha, gave Maddie a few dirty looks, but she trotted away each time and it did not look like there would be trouble.  We decided to leave Maddie with the herd for the night.  So Maddie finally has a herd!  I am so happy.  She can move around, roll in the sand, and be part of a group.  Chuck will turn them all out in the morning for an hour of pasture.  Lucky mare!