Getting Back To Work

I had to look back to see when the last time was that I rode Whisper. I knew it was before Pirate was born and herd structure did a number on her, followed by lameness and abscesses. I've had Whisper for 4 and a half months and it's been 3 months since I've ridden her. With feet that are no longer painful it's time to start a workload more than just learning cross ties and working on ground manners. She's physically ready for light riding and I'm ready to start moving in that direction.

She and I started in the ring on a longe line and by the end of the session she was giving me focus and attention, her responses were fairly soft.

Next time the main ring was in use, so we walked through the woods to the second ring. This ring spooked her a little more than the other, surrounded by woods, situated away from all of the other horses and the barn. A few times she stopped dead, called to the horses at the barn, then would try and bolt away. I was able to correct this and keep her with me, in the future I'll probably use a chain when working her in that location to keep us both safe.

The last sessions of the week, I added in the bridle. I have 2 bridles, one plain noseband that I've worked/ridden her in before. And another that includes a flash, a second noseband that goes in front of the bit to help keep the horse from being able to open their mouth. She works her mouth enough that I wanted to try the flash on her this time around and keep that tongue under the bit. In three months I forgot that she likes to bite once bridled, she got me once while I was opening a gate.

I thought I'd go ahead and throw in mounting block practices while we were at it. I'd like her to begin an understanding of holding still during and after mounting until asked to move forward.My confidence increases with every challenge she throws me that I am able to counter. Her confidence increases as I make her job description clear.