by horseluv5829 » Sat Jul 18, 2015 9:21 am
-First Touch
After his capture, we brought Prachi out into a round pen with high fences to let him get some energy out. He ran so elegantly and I watched and stood on the side and let him come up to us as he pleased. He never did get very close as he seemed to be a bit nervous to see what we would do. Eventually, he stopped in the center of the ring, seeming to be able to sense me from the heat coming off of us.
My mind was racing as I wondered what was going to happen. Would he charge? Would he give in and come to us? I did not know. I kept still and waited for what seemed like an eternity. Finally, he took his first steps towards me. I held out my hand, letting him smell me so that I could show him that I am not dangerous and that he could trust me. He then gently leaned his head into my hand and let me stroke his beautiful head. It was a magical moment and he and I would then start our bond.
-First Saddle
I continued to pet him from the outside of the fence over the next few days until I was able to get inside the fence and stand with him, run by his side, and hand feed him treats. Eventually, I thought that he would be ready to start being saddle broke. I grabbed my training saddle and sat it on the fence with its light blue saddle pad. He strode over and sniffed the pair, occasionally poking at them to hear them swing up against the metal bar. He must have pushed it a bit harder than he thought as the saddle slid off of the rack and crashed on the ground. "Prachi, it is just a saddle. I promise it will not hurt you."
I picked them up and grabbed the training bridle with a soft bit. I brought them over by his side and let him explore their feeling. I stroked his jaw underneath his lip and then asked him to take the bit. He lifted his head and tried to resist it, but I guess began to realize I would not give up on him. He brought down his head and kindly took the bit from my hand. "That is a good boy Prachi! This is big progress."
I took the bridle off and then showed him the saddle. I gently rubbed his pad against his side and then gently set it above his withers. The saddle would be the harder part. I put on his halter and led him over to the side of the fence and tied a daisy knot to prevent him from moving around while being saddled. "Ok boy, you can trust me..." I said as I swung the saddle onto his back. He pulled back at the lead rope and paced around in pace as I tightened the girth. Then, I let him loose and he started sprinting around the pen like a race horse, but faster. His legs flailed in the air as he tried to get the "monster saddle" off of his back.
I giggled a bit and then he turned his head to me as if asking, "Why?" and I shook my head. "Oh buddy, you have to learn to be ridden sometime." He continued to buck around for about the next half hour and then came to a sighing stop. I walked up to him and gave him a pat. I re put on his lead rope and walked him around in his saddle for a bit. Then, we did some lunging exercises to end off the day with the saddle at a walk, trot, and a small amount of a canter. Prachi had finally conquered the saddle!!!
-First Ride
Our bond was finally inseparable and I believed that together, we could have our first ride. After weeks of training, Prachi had become an amazing companion and deserved to get his training finished. I walked into his stall earlier in the morning than normal as he stuck his head out and greeted me with a whinny. "Hey there boy! Ready for something new?" I asked as I led him into the cross ties. Throughout his training, he had become such a calm and cool horse that he completed his training a bit faster than the other ones I had worked with. I got him all tacked up and led him out to an open field. I stopped him next to a big boulder that stood tall among the grasses.
I walked up while still holding his reins and stood on the boulder. I put my left foot in the stirrup and pushed my weight on his back a little bit to see his reaction. Just like he had learned, he stood completely still, which was kind of a first. I then gently swung my leg to the other side of the saddle, reaching down to the other stirrup before giving him pressure to walk on. He did not just walk, but leaped into a full gallop. He had stood so still that I did not expect this reaction. "Woah Woah easy boy," I said soothingly as I gently pulled the reins back. He slowed to a trot. "That is better," I said as he slowly got back down into a walk. I reached down and hugged his neck as I watched to make sure I was not covering his breathing holes. Then, like he wanted to do, I galloped of across the field in a blaze of speed as all of the training had paid off.
Thanks!!!