I know everyone is dying to know how my horse and the stalled mini pig situation is coming along! It was so cold and snowy last week, Erin rode her several days. She reported that Fancy was fine on the second day. They cantered and did flying lead changes in the indoor arena. That afternoon, the pigs moved into a stall on the other side of barn aisle. My horse became fearful again…snorting and fearful. How perceptive are horses! Trainer and horse did a lot of walking in the scary end with turns toward the pigs. My horse relaxed, but no fun with cantering. The faster the horse goes when being ridden, the more fearful of predator pigs they are! The next day, the pigs moved back to the original stall. My horse terrified again.
I rode my horse the next day, fed her in the scary end of the arena and rode her. She calmed down and we were able to have the fun with going fast and trying flying leads!
Too dang cold to ride her this weekend. I did manage to feed her at the scary end one day before I froze to death.
Monday group lesson..scared again. Her best friend, a mule, was there. We followed the Mulie around the arena. Calm horse!
When not following Mulie, the pigs became scary plus the new owner is doing construction on the long side of the arena….clang…bang! Eventually at the 45 minute portion of the lesson, we were confident enough to go fast and try for flying changes. I’m getting better at asking. We did counter canter and tried lead change in the corners. Mini pigs and construction were forgotten!
Construction is preparing outdoor pen for pigs. Guess where they will be! Yep, Neighboring turnout lot. My horse will be able to see the pigs!
Life is exciting! I’m glad for my natural Horsemanship training to understand, redirect and lessen the effect of prey animal pigs!