Kasane now officially knows how to trot. She picked up the cue immediately. We worked briefly in the round pend and then in the big ring. She was good for two times when I asked her to trot. On the third time, I asked her to steer and it confused her a little. (Too soon for that.) So we turned around, walked a little, and then asked her to trot again towards the back of the ring. She could see the people back by the mobile home and some deer in the field. She wasn’t happy with me: she stiffened her neck and her entire body and tossed her head. Not sure if it was distraction or her just being tired of me bouncing (I was sitting her trot). So I slowed her to a walk and we headed in a new direction back towards the long side towards the barn. I tried asking her to give to pressure on the halter while walking, but I don’t think it was clear. (Probably just confused her further.) Chris suggested doing some one rein stops both ways, which we did. She was stiff. One direction she actually bit my boot. After a little bit of coming around and asking her to give to pressure at a whoa, and she did it beautifully. She gave me a really nice walk one time around, so I got off after that. We’ll work on trot and the other stuff. I might have been asking a little too much this time.

Kasane is apparently very ticklish on her sides. While I rode, I repeated some things that spooked her on the trail (taking my feet out of the stirrups and then putting them back in). She definitely doesn’t like stuff brushing her sides. She is very sensitive and doesn’t like my legs brushing her. I use light leg pressure any ways, but anything extra gets a flick of her ear and a swish of the tail. So we need to work on that.

It’s so easy to forget how much she doesn’t know. For most of the things I’ve asked her to do, she’s very quick and does it immediately (some times better than a horse with a lot more training). She’s very calm but she has a spit fire under there.

Overall I think we did okay. We’ll ease into trotting in the big ring and we’ll get there. Asking her to trot in the big ring on the first day she’s ever been asked to trot in the ring was a bit much. We’ll get there. More time to do that tomorrow with this nice weather.

I did introduce her to the blue barrel. It got kicked all over the ring, rolled around, pounded on, pushed over, etc. As much noise as I could make with it I did. She followed after the barrel and snorted, sniffed it, and eventually tried to bite it.

So I think it was a good ride and a good session. We have a long way to go…

Wow. Two and a half hours worth of trail riding with 10 other horses and the Bay Wonder Mare Junior was amazing. I dismounted and mounted about four times. We went through our first water obstacle (BIG creek: wide but not deep), dealt with several bridges, water along side the trail, deer, and no-see-ums. The worst thing she did was do a four-footed jump and rush forward a few strides when the wind kicked in right when I was putting my foot back in the stirrup. She snorted more at the end of the ride when we rode up to the horse trailers than she had on the ride itself.

I’ll write more later. I’m heading off to gaming tonight but I had to share how absolutely astounded I am that a mare whose been ridden less than 15 times could handle such a long outting.

I’ll have pictures to post as soon as some of the other ladies send me some. I wasn’t about to try and take pictures.

Kasane’s first trail ride. I’m nervous and worried and excited at the same time. We had a good ride today, even though this was the first time she gave me some grief while I was on her. At one point, we stopped near the gait and I asked her to walk forward. She refused, pinned her ears, tightened the muscles along her back and neck, and tried to bite my foot. I turned her around and pushed her forward (took some doing because she tried to backup). We worked through it and kept her going.

It was a good thing because it proved we can figure out how to get around situations. She doesn’t know a lot of stuff and it’s hard for her to figure it out. She knows the words walk and whoa, but isn’t quite sure of when I squeeze with my legs. Lots of stuff we need to work on. She’s very willing go try it.

I think she got really bored today and let me know. No more walking around the ring. She wants to do stuff.

Tomorrow we will. I’ll have either good tales or scary ones.

I’m writing on the blog because I’m nervous. Funny how that works. Watching the kitties curl up on the desk or ask to for the laser pointer to come out and play. I should be in bed. I have to be up early and at the barn.

Today, Kasane had her first ride in the big ring. I warmed her up in the round pen as usual, and then, while on her, opened the gate and rode to the big ring. She hesitated when stepping out the gate, as it some magical line had been crossed. She walked to the ring walking with a little hesitation.

Everything is different with me on her and not next to her. Things she wouldn’t normally care about she has to stop and investigate. Walking over poles is strange. Piles of shavings have monsters lurking underneath so she has to stop, sniff, and paw at them.

So how did she react to being in the big ring with other horses in adjoining paddocks? Absolutely no reaction. She was perfect.

I tried to push her into a trot and didn’t quite succeed. She did a faster walk, though, so we’re getting there. She is getting the idea of moving off of my leg.

She is so cool with some of the cues. To whoa, I tilt my hips back a little. She stops immediately. She listens listens and is interested in things that are going on around her. When we ride, she walks with a relaxed gait. Such a delight to play with her.