Part of our ground work -assigned only to Sue and I- was driving using the 45′ rope. It’s a stiff rope, like a lariat. It’s very long. Sue didn’t like it moving behind her rear end very much. I stayed right beside her and asked her to move on the rail. It didn’t work at all in the arena. She got nervous about the rope on her rear end and got her feet outside of the “reins”. I wasn’t handy enough to keep that from happening. When we went inside after lunch, we did this again in the round pen. I was able to handle my role and Sue zipped back and forth on the rope. I had to turn her 180 degrees with her face into the fence. She had to turn her head to the outside of the fence. We had trouble going one way and managed pretty good the other way.
It was emotionally fun. The clinic was full with 10 riders. Today we had a round pen in the arena. The round pen was in the spot where Sue and I go to “escape” from the other scary horses.
On the long side of the wall, there was just enough room with a little to spare for two horses to pass.
Did I mention that Sue is a little claustrophobic. She’s improved a ton since the Horse Development clinic.
But just listen to what she had to contend with.
Two horses moving inside the round pen. Two horses circling around the outside of the round pen. The rest of us were on the rail of the arena. Occasionally we “met” one of the horses circling on the outside of the at that narrow space. We refused to move forward at that point. Thank Goodness all the other participants on the rail didn’t pass us at those delicate moments.
Sue sped up fast every now and then, but it was not that pounding hoof speed sound that makes everyone look around in fear of their life.
At times she got a little tight and sped up into what I thought was going to be a trot. I thought it odd that she would tighten up and trot. But then again, it wasn’t a trot. I believe it was a fox trot. But she felt like she was going to keep on accelerating, so I slowed her down. hmmmm…That gait really felt good. I need to get her to do that when she is happy and relaxed!
She did so well on this day that I have made a “date” for our first real trail ride. It’s next Sunday. Perhaps it will snow or freeze or thunder or the globe will shift and the trail ride won’t happen.
Brave Sue and Susan signing off!