Lunging Bailey…a la Karen

So, here’s the thing.   I’ve been trying to get Bailey to trot for a while now.  I mean, to trot consistently, in a circle, until I asked for a walk.  When I would ask him, it was hit and miss.  Sometimes he would, and sometimes he would buck and lash out with his hind end.  That scared me, and so I would back off.  Big mistake.

Today, I tripped while walking through the arena, and let go of Bailey’s lead shank.  He had spooked at something, and I just sorta tripped at the same time.  So I let go, and he took off.  No problem, no one was hurt, and I got him back and walked into his stall.  Karen mentioned how I should turn him out into the arena to boogey around and burn off energy, and I mentioned the fact that I’ve tried, and all he does is stand in the corner, playing with the skip bucket and the mirror.  And lashes out with his hind end when I try to get him to move.  One thing led to another, and we had him in the arena, boogeying.  Karen knows what she is doing, whereas I apparently might read the right books, but have been much too nice to my little huge darling.  Long story short, Karen lunged him, and had my baby going round at the trot, not daring to step wrong.  All I could think was, ‘Wow’!!!  Never underestimate a lifetime of hands on knowledge.  And  next time, when Karen offers to help me, I will accept.  I will not waste three months trying to do something by the book!  Three months of my work that didn’t work is equal to five minutes of Karen’s work that did work.  But at least now I know.  And even better, Bailey knows that I know!

Buckaroo Bonzai…

How’s that for my future jumper?

Ever seen the movie?  Get the inside joke?  It’s all Todd’s idea anyway.  And I figured since Bailey is still really Todd’s horse, he gets to name him.  I kinda like it.

And it starts with B.

It’s suits.

My boy’s definitely got talent…

I haven’t posted much in the last bit because there is not a lot new to report.  I’ve only lunged him a few times, since I’ve last posted.  One time I was absolutely determined to get him to trot a decent circle.  We went in, walked a circle, I made my kissey noises, and off he went.  One really nice trot circle, then buck, kick, buck, rear, buck, stop dead and look at me as if to say ‘Whatcha gonna do about it?’  I shortened up the line a bit, asked for the trot again, and he moved off.  Stopped him and left it at that.  Didn’t want to make a big deal of the bucking, cause it would be pointless right now.  And if anything, that might give him the idea that bucking is a good thing!  I definitely don’t want that!!  I have to admit though, watching his moves made me equally impressed and wary.  My boy can fly.  But if he did that under saddle with me on his back, then I wouldn’t be on for long!  I’m thinking that I may ask Tracy if she would be willing to help me break him in the spring.  She has tons of experience with backing babies, and she is super good at what she does.  That might be the smart thing to do.  I don’t think Bailey has a mean bone in his body, and he would not intentionally hurt me, but he is a big boy and young and playful.  I’ll have to talk to Tracy and see what she thinks.

We recently had another nice vet bill.  Seems his ’something latin’ canal was a bit blocked, resulting in a bit of a goopy eye.  So Dr. Jen got Bailey wickedly drunk, and poked around in his nose with a tiny hose and syringe for a while.  He is definitely not a cheap drunk!  At least while he was still under the influence I was able to do a really good mane pulling job.  He doesn’t appreciate having his mane pulled ordinarily, but this time he didn’t care.  He stood there, snoring, while I pulled.  The running joke was that it would have been a good time to clean his sheath as well.  Or if he had been able to stand up a bit sturdier, to sit on him!

I am still riding North, not as often as I’d like, but as much as I can.  I love that old boy.  I wish he could have a talk with Bailey, and just explain the lay of the land.  How to do all these silly things that us little biped creatures (who seem to think we should be the boss) ask of him.  If only it were so easy.