Jezebel went across the street! She did rather good. She was calm though very lookie-lou ish and she crossed the street with no issues at all. Into the woods she went, on the little trail and over to the ditch and the creek. Jez doesn’t like ditches or water for that matter. She has jumped both with me on her in the past rather then just walk across or down them. Michelle was leading her and though she stopped at the ditch she didn’t balk at it. She looked around snorted a little then decided it was okay to walk down the ditch incline. She thought about jumping the tiny creek but decided walking though it was ok after a couple minutes. Score one for Miss Jez! Up the trail into the parking lot and over to the ring and Jez was doing great.
Michelle noted her ground manners were lacking. That i’m sure is all my fault. I haven’t wanted to do much of anything with her until her ulcer meds were on board and working. She’s been a pasture pony for about 2 months. Into the ring and on the lunge. Thats when the calling started. Jez was calling and calling and calling and horses were calling back to her. There was a women who had just finished using the ring when we went in who had a difficult horse who then wouldn’t load. Jez and him were calling to each other. Making every one frustrated. 2 girls rode over to go on the trail and their horses weren’t being good at the mounting block. Jez was calling to them. Then of course horses across the street were calling to Jez. Not Circe as she was in her stall at home waiting her turn to work. However the horses in the field next door to mine… calling like idiots.
So every time Jez called to other horses she got worked harder. She seemed to understand this but also seemed to not care. Stubborn mule. She did good on the lunge and didn’t seem to favor any direction which is what i was worried about. It was a hot and sunny day and Jez worked up a sweat which she needs to do on a regular basis because lets face it Jez is fat. 6.5 body score but to me she just looks tubby. I feel for her because my months off riding have made me fat too. We have that in common. Peas in a pod. Going home back though the parking lot, down the ditch, though the creek and across the street Jez did great. Though i don’t think i’ll be taking her over alone until i’m sure she wont jump that ditch on the way over, i think i can very soon. For her first day back in work after months off i have to say she did really great and i was very happy with her.
Then Michelle went to get her project horse Moon an OTTB gelding shes trained and currently has up for sale and she rode over to my barn. I tacked up Circe. We went across the street, traded horses and went on a trail ride! Thats right i finally got to ride a horse (Moon is amazing BTW) and Circe and Moon went out on the trail. Circe’s first official trail ride. Circe led the entire way and was very brave and mostly calm. Even when we had to alter our route because lots of the trails are closed off because of flood damage from the crazy 3 days of massive rain and flooding out here (hello climate change!) We got to a point where there were some people with kids and dogs coming at us and decided to turn back and thats when Circe lost it. She started to get all freaky styley and had one of her now famous melt downs. Michelle ended up getting off and walking her (after the atempts to rear) with me riding Moon behind. I offered to dismount too but Michelle wanted me to stay aboard so i did.
A pattern has emerged with Circe and it has to do when she thinks its time to go home. This turning on the trail and melt down freak out confirmed it. So instead of going home Circe got taken into the ring and worked. I walked Moon around and Michelle mounted from the ground (Circe stood still!) and worked with her at a walk until little miss freak out was able to walk calm and relaxed and then she rode her at the walk on the buckle. Which doesn’t sound like much but it really is a big deal. Once she did that we called it a day and walked both horses across the street only i walked Circe and Michelle walked Moon. I backed her every time she tried to get ahead of me and i did have to circle her a few times cuz she threatened to rear. Good times. I was happy to have Michelle there for back up but also happy i waked crazy back across the street myself. After we were safe across the street Michelle left us to take Moon back across the street to school him over the cross country course they have. My better half was waiting for me at the barn after having done all my barn chores for me (I totally scored with him let me tell you) and we hosed off crazy and let her go out with her herd. It was a very productive day.