S T A R DUN I T ▹▹ 2014 CWHR MustangMakeover

[`Hypnotic]

hey guys!
i've decided to enter the 2014 CWHR Mustang Makeover and I do not want to spam Teresa any longer. Also, this will be more organized.
If you have any comments/suggestions please PM me and DO NOT post on here.
▹▹ CottonWood Horse Ranch's thread can be found here.
▹▹ the original thread for the CWHR mustang makeover can be found here.
▹▹ the CWHR mustang makeover discussion thread can be found here.
▹▹ my horse's thread can be found here.

Tables of contents ;;
▹▹ claiming & horse information
▹▹ art by me / colored in art
▹▹ gifs & purchased art
▹▹ daily training posts

[`Hypnotic]

Registered Name ; Star Dun It
Number ; #5270
Main Trait ; Pushy -> Dominant
Good ; Intelligent -> Athletic -> Willing [after you've gained respect]
Bad ; Pushy -> Sensitive -> Agitated quickly
Barn Name ; Dia
Breed ; Mustang
Age ; 4 years
Coat Color ; Dun
Eye Color ; Brown [dark]
Mane & Tail Color ; Both black
Hair Texture ; Fur is thick and grows quickly. Mane and tail are coarse and curly. Easily tangles.
Gender ; Mare
Markings ; Star
Height ; 15.0hh
Riding Style ; multi-style -> centered on western
Rider/Owner ; Alliana Vinco [`Hypnotic]
Beginning Status ; Wild -> ★★★★★★★★☆☆
Human Contact -> ★★☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆
Clinton Anderson Fundamentals Training -> ☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆
Trail/Obstacle Training -> ☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆
Western Pleasure/Show Horse Training -> ☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆
Bridleless Training -> ☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆

-----
Name ; Alliana Nicolle Vinco
Age ; 18 years
Skin Color ; slightly tanned
Hair Color ; Brown-ish red with blonde highlights
Height ; 5'5
Eye Color ; Bright green with yellow hints near the black pupil
Weight ; 170 [slightly chunky -> overweight]
Previous Experience ;
Certified Clinton Anderson Clinician -> ridden a quantity of horses good and bad. Has done the 7 Parelli games
Showing -> western pleasure, halter, showmanship, speed events, a little bit of jumping, low-level dressage, trail

BARN INFORMATION ;;
-> 5 stall barn, on the right side on the very end that stall has a small run that is shaded by a tree.
-> cross ties in middle of alleyway
-> one stall used for keeping hay, halters, and storage [first stall on left side]
-> first door to the right is an air conditioned tack room that has 8 saddle holders, feed bins, table, chairs, TV, horse DVDs, pictures, and trophy case.
-> out back is a 50ft wide green behler round pen, 6ft high.
-> jumping arena is 150" x 200" [includes cross rails, oxers, and adjustable jumps. One Liverpool.]
-> dressage area is 100" x 200" [includes markers]
-> indoor lighted arena is back behind all this and is 200" x 200" [using for rainy day jumping and western riders/schooling/etc.]
-> indoor lighted arena has also got a 4 stall barn with a basic grain and 1 bale of regular hay for emergencies. Also serves as quarantine.
-> cross country course is 2 miles back [you have to walk down a trail] and includes logs, jump-ups, creek, and some set-up jumps.
-> Two patures 100" x 100" each in front yard ; grass.
-> one pasture by round pen is 50" x 75" ; half grass half sand
-> NO CURRENT BOARDERS

-----

CLAIMING DAY ->

I walked into the CottonWood Horse Ranch, looking around quietly, hearing the scream of stallions and the nicker of young ones calling back to them. What a mad house! My barn certainly wasn't this noisy, but I didn't have any horses in it either because I had just graduated from the Clinton Anderson Academy. I thought it was time to get my career started. What better way then to train a wild mustang? CWHR had just had the nearest contest. Ah, I was so excited. No one would ever know it, but I was. I calmly walked down the corridor to the other side of the barn, where the pick-up sheets where. I'd signed up almost a month ago and the anticipation was killing me. I couldn't wait to get my hands on a mustang. As I strode down the corridor, a two pens were set up. One for geldings and one for mares. Slightly dangerous, but that was there choice I guess. I looked back down at the pick-up sheet and signed my name in black, sloppy letters filling the 21st slot, my horse's number. The older lady working the distribution of horses smiled kindly at me and handed me a small, white piece of paper, with black, printed letters and numbers. It said, "21 -> #5270". I walked over to the mare pen, because the old lady pointed me there. I handed the older man with a gray mustache the slip and he quickly jumped into the pen, roping down my mare.

Wow, she was a looker. A nice dun color, warm brown eyes, and a large white star in the middle of her forehead. Her cheeks were broad and a classic quarter horse look was about her. Her withers were high, her hindquarters large and powerful, short legs, and very nice conformation, besides the high withers problem. Her neck was a little on the short side and it wasn't muscled or toned, but that would come with conditioning. I quickly walked over to my dark blue Silverado and backed my 2-horse aluminum with the divider taken out to the gate. The old mustache guy crowded her into the trailer, with some resistance from her. He let his rope go and quickly shut the full door. I hopped out of my F150 and thanked him. Then I heard a loud bang bang and quickly ran to my door again and drove off. Hopefully he had more ropes.

As I backed the trailer to the green Behler roundpen, my doberman Sailor came sprinting out from the barn, tailed by my pitbulls Junior and Sir. Over the roar of my Silverado, I yelled to them, "Barn! Now!" They tucked their tails between there legs and went back to hide in the barn. I went back to the trailer and my mom was already back there, trying to quiet her. The dun would have none of it though, head high and nostrils flaring. My mom sighed, went to the driver's seat and nodded to me. I opened the trailer door and she raced out, into the round pen. I quickly shut the round pen's gate and then the trailer's door. My mom slowly pulled away, checking on me and quickly inspecting the mare. I looked more closely at her, looking for signs of injuries. I looked at the papers I got from the lady that distributed horses and saw her information. She was 4 and was UTD on coggins and shots but still needed farrier work.

Well, I guess I'd just get started tomorrow.

[`Hypnotic]

reference art ;;
grayscale art by me
training art ;;
halter and roundpen training colored in
showing art ;;
none yet
extra art ;;
i.e avatars, icons, busts, headers,etc.
none yet

[`Hypnotic]

GIFS ;;
-> day 1 <-

-> day 2 <-

-> day 3 <-

-> day 4 <-

-> day 5 <-
none yet.

PURCHASED REFERENCE ART ;;
none yet.
PURCHASED TRAINING ART ;;
none yet.
PURCHASED SHOWING ART ;;
none yet.
PURCHASED EXTRA ART ;;
none yet.

[`Hypnotic]

DAY 1 ▹▹ Training

▹▹ start clinton anderson fundamentals training ☑
▹▹ get halter on her ☑

I strode out to the Behler non-discreetly, with a purple CA certified rope halter and lead rope, and a purple CA carrot stick. Her previous sleeping stance had now changed to wide-awake and alert. I opened the small door to the round pen and she skittered to the other side, away from me. I hung the halter on the door, and walked to the center. Her head was up and her ears were pricked towards me. She snorted uneasily, and walked around the pen. Well, I guess we shall test her athleticism. I pointed and she looked at me out of the corner of her eye 1,2,3 I counted in my head. I clucked 1,2,3, still no response. I spanked the ground with great intensity, while pointing and she took off into a gallop around my 50 foot round pen. Pushy and dominant, it appeared, maybe even sensitive. She quickly settled though, and started trotting. I pointed to the rhythm, nothing. Then I clucked and she went quickly. Soon enough she was consistently cantering. I would now start stage 2. I stepped out and back, wiggling my finger, trying to get her to look at me. She turned her back to me and turned and cantered off. I quickly cut her off. Again, I tried to get her to turn to me after half a lap. This time, she turned into me and I switched carrot stick hands and pointed and she trotted off.

Soon enough, she was pretty good at turning and keeping her speed. I stepped out and back, then turned my back to her. Unusually, she came up to me, I could hear her breath close behind me. I walked over to the gate and out of the corner of my eye, she was following me. Not too close, because she was still a little unsure of me, but close enough to be somewhat trusting. I grabbed the purple halter and lead rope and she curiously looked at it. She sniffed it. I walked to her head and pulled the string around her neck. She stood there, so I slipped the halter over her nose. She stood there, still. I knew I had to do this a little bit faster or she'd explode soon. So I tied it quicker than usual and stood back, giving her some rope. I pointed and she took off into a trot around the ring. She snorted and I asked for a turn to the inside. She pulled against me and I pulled the halter. She kicked out with her back legs and turned. I quickly spanked after her, letting her know kicking out WASN'T the solution.

After she'd started to slowly yield to pressure from the halter, I started the tools desensitizing. I started with the rope. Boy did she have a conniption fit. I started at not even touching her. By the end of the rope-desensitizing, she was comfortable with it touching her. I did the same with my carrot stick and after quite a bit of practice on both sides, she was used to it. I also spanked the ground desensitized and she was slowly comfortable with that. Wow, I sure did have my work cut out for me!

▹▹ showed signs of pushiness
▹▹ showed signs of intelligence
▹▹ showed signs of stubbornness

training update ;;
Wild -> ★★★★★☆☆☆☆☆
Human Contact -> ★★★★★☆☆☆☆☆
Clinton Anderson Fundamentals Training -> ★★★☆☆☆☆☆☆☆
Western Pleasure/Show Horse Training -> ☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆
Bridleless Training -> ☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆
Trail/Obstacle Training -> ☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆

[`Hypnotic]

DAY 2 ▹▹ TRAINING

▹▹ get halter on without her running ☑
▹▹ introduce new CA ideas ☑
▹▹ improve her backing ☑

Ugh. It was way too early in the morning. I could barely keep my bright green eyes open! Ugh. I'd better get serious or the dun mare would knock me into place. Wow, I still hadn't come up with a name for her. Well, she had a nice star on her forehead, even if some of it was covered by her matted, curly, black forelock. She was also dun. If a horse didn't have a show name/registered name I liked to use their color/markings to give them one. I think a good one would be.... Star Dun It. I could then call her Dia. Hm... where had I heard that name before? I didn't remember. Shaking my head, I grabbed my black coffee and headed out the door. I was eagerly greeted by Sailor, Sir, and Junior. They followed me over to Dia's pen. She went to greet me and then saw the dogs at my feet. She squealed, pinned her ears, and tried to nip them. I shoo'd them away and entered the arena with her, purple stick in hand that I'd grabbed from walking through the barn. Today, I'd teach her the flexing and backing cues and desensitize her.

I started with yesterday's round pen lesson and she was quite rusty at first but then in an hour she was back to being a good listener and follower. I then walked over to the gate with her treading lightly behind me. When she saw the halter she squealed and turned tail and ran. I quickly picked up my handy stick and chased her away. She flattened her ears at me and I spanked the ground after her. I made her go around about five laps at the canter and then switched directions, making her go another 5 the other way. 15 minutes later I invited her into me again. This time, she let me put the purple halter on her. I stroked her neck, continuing with my desensitizing to stick & string and then rope, switching up the pattern. I then started to work on picking her feet up. I pulled the rope around her hooves and picked them up until she was nicely picking them up for me. I then switched to the other side. Wow, her progress was breathtaking.

After another 20 minutes of picking her hooves up and rubbing her legs, I moved onto flexing. I stood by her shoulder and slowly bent her head around. Wow, she was so stiff! She tried to move and release the pressure, but I kept with her until she stopped. But, she still wasn't soft, she was leaning against my hand pressure. After what seemed like an eternity of steady pressure, she softened a tiny bit and I released. I did this on both sides then went back to the left side and got her farther and farther until she could touch her shoulder and be soft in my hands. I repeated this on the right side, even though it took a bit more time. After that, I went to teach her one of the backing cues. I guess I'd start with "tap the air." It only took me around 10 minutes to get her to the point I only had to tap the lead rope once or twice before she backed. It wasn't pretty yet, but it would do.

Then I practiced another backing method. Wave, Walk, whack. She was better at this method because she was so sensitive. By the end of 30 minutes she was backing to this method quite well. I guess I'd end on a good note. I took her halter off, leaving her, not her leaving me, and exited the round pen. Sailor, Sir, and Junior flocked to me at the door and Dia again tried to bite them. Hm... this was an odd behaviour. Maybe she was trying to protect me? Or was she protecting herself?

▹▹ sensitive
▹▹ still follows me around
▹▹ doesn't mind things flying past ears ; possible roping horse?

training update ;;
Wild -> ★★★★☆☆☆☆☆☆
Human Contact -> ★★★★★★☆☆☆☆
Clinton Anderson Fundamentals Training -> ★★★★☆☆☆☆☆☆
Western Pleasure/Show Horse Training -> ☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆
Bridleless Training -> ☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆
Trail/Obstacle Training -> ☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆

[`Hypnotic]

▹▹ continue her favorite method of backing ☑
▹▹ start jeffrey's method ☑
▹▹ introduce lunging for respect and yielding the forequarters ☐
▹▹ continue previous training ☑

DAY 3 ▹▹TRAINING
I stretched my long, slightly tanned legs from my messy bed, pillows strewn about the floor and bed. My blanket was on the floor and my red hair was is knots and tangles. Oh well. I picked myself up and threw my quantity of crumpled pillows on the bed so I didn't have to step on them. Grabbing a pair of washed out size 14 blue jeans I quickly pulled them on and wrapped a sparkly crystal belt around them to hold them up. I threw on a light purple tank, slipped my giraffe Ariats on, and pulled my hair into a messy bun. My curly hair flopped everywhere and I sighed. Another day of looking terrible. Oh well, it was the usual now. I said "Good morning" to my mom sitting at the table as I flew out the door to see my mustang. As I walked out, Dia looked at me with her caramel eyes and walked calmly over to the gate, waiting for me. Was it time to turn her out into bigger pastures? No, that would be rushing it. I hadn't even completed four days of round penning yet. I walked through the barn and grabbed my purple handy stick and her purple halter & lead. As I saw the dogs, they barked at me and came running. I opened the tack room and filled their food, leaving on the floor outside the tack room. I turned on the country station and music filled the barn, even though only I was there to hear it.

I walked quickly outside, where Dia was standing by the door, head down foot cocked in a relaxed position. I pointed and clicked and she moved away, giving me space to enter. This was going surprisingly fast. I would have to introduce her to my mother soon. I made Dia canter around without switching pace and she did willingly. Only once or twice she dropped to a trot and that was after changing directions. Hm... I still haven't figured out her bad side. I called her into me by turning my back at an angle and she walked right up to me. I grabbed the halter & lead and watched for signs of her running. She calmly stood there and tipped her head towards me. I slipped the halter on, more slowly today and tied it. I began with desensitizing the rope, then the stick and string. Today, I stood out in front of her and swung the string in a figure eight formation over her head, letting it zing by her ears. She uneasily stepped back, but I continued and soon enough, she lowered her head and I rubbed her face with it. Today, I might push it a little bit, she was progressing nicely... I hope I wasn't making a mistake.

I started to try and yield the hindquarters. I looked, tapped the air, then rhythmatically tapped her hind until they swung away from her. After a few good yields on the right side [her left], I moved to the left [her right]. She skittered around way to fast, but I ignored this. I worked this side much more, and soon it was better than the other side. I then began method one -> lean forward, then tap the air in the 1,2,3 rhythm. I then tried method 2 -> wiggle, wave, walk, and whack. Today I added the third method in, the marching method. This seemed to by the most effective backing method for her. For some reason she understood this far better than all of the other ones. I felt like today was good, so I'd end it on method 3. Tomorrow I would work on number four and it would be the last round penning day.

▹▹ dogs freaked her out
▹▹ curious about new people
▹▹ did well with Jeffrey's method
▹▹ didn't do lunging for respect

training update ;;
Wild -> ★★☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆
Human Contact -> ★★★★★★★☆☆
Clinton Anderson Fundamentals Training -> ★★★★★☆☆☆☆☆
Western Pleasure/Show Horse Training -> ☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆
Bridleless Training -> ☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆
Trail/Obstacle Training -> ☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆

[`Hypnotic]

DAY 4 ▹▹ TRAINING

▹▹ continue her favorite method of backing ☑
▹▹ start jeffrey's method ☑
▹▹ introduce lunging for respect and yielding the forequarters ☐
▹▹ continue previous training ☑

Today was the day I would finish her round pen training and just go to other exercises. Today was the day I would get on her. Of course it wouldn't be with a saddle or something holding me down, it would be with my own balance, my own strength, my own intelligence. I think this would be my biggest challenge. Plus, I couldn't use the mounting block, I hadn't introduced that yet. It wasn't really "riding" her per say, but I was laying on her, rubbing on her like a human curry comb. It was called the Jeffrey's method and my Natural Horsemanship trainer Clinton Anderson had instructed us on how to do it at the academy. Today, as I walked out into my five stall barn, my three dogs were no where to be seen. Curiously, I called to Sailor; the leader of the three. Nothing. I walked back to my 50ft white sand round pen and saw them sleeping by the gate. Dia was farthest away from them, ears back and leg cocked, ready to kick. Hm... she mustn't understand other animal expression then. As I approached, Sir got up and awoke Sailor and Junior in the process. Sir stepped on Junior's tail and Junior yelped in reply. Dia bolted around the pen, and kicked out towards the dogs. In turn, the dogs barked and started trying to bite at her back legs.

I grabbed them by their collars and took all three into the barn and locked them in an empty 10x10 stall with an automatic watering system. I walked back out to the round pen, on the way grabbing my tools. Today, I would start with my round pen exercises, then I would move to the flexing, backing, and yielding. I would also teach her then how to yield her forequarters. As I strode into the pen, today she stayed at the back, but flicked her ears towards me coming in. Well, today surely wasn't a great day to start off. I put the halter on the opening latch and let myself in. Immediately going to the center of the pen, I sent her off cantering, then started my daily round pen exercises. After this, I desensitized her again to my tools. Today, she wasn't reactive at all when I swung my string in figure eights over her head and the even stood still while I flung the rope around and around her neck. She even cocked her leg and relaxed. At this cue, I moved into the backing methods, touching up on all of them, but mainly working on her favorite; the marching. Basically, I just lifted my arms like I was in a marching band and she backed. In this method, her head was down and collected, her butt tucked underneath her, and she looked like a nice reining horse.

Perfect. I then yielded her hindquarters using the first method, then I taught her the last method of backing, steady pressure. I yielded the hindquarters 360 degrees and then backed her using light pressure. Surprisingly, I didn't have to put much pressure on her nose or even bump her nose down. Well, something had to go wrong, today was going too well... Suddenly my three dogs came running out of the barn barking, my mother quickly following behind them."Alliana Vinco, tell me this instant why you had those..." Dia took off running, so I yielded her hindquarters, trying to keep her mind occupied on me. I quickly sent her out on a long line, almost holding the end of the lead rope. As she approached the gate she went to kick at the dogs, but I spanked the ground after her, pushing her forwards. My mom, Neva, finally had a hold on them. I ignored my mother as she pulled the three away to put them back in the stall. As she approached again (without the dogs) she said,"You know you're going to have to fix that before the competition is over, right?" No.... really? "Yes mama, I know. I just started her training four days ago, I haven't even got under saddle yet. You just gotta be patient. Here, I'll introduce her to ya." I turned my back and she came walking into me and I let her over to my mom. My mother stuck her large man hand through the fence and Dia sniffed it. Neva smiled and then heard the yappers barking again so she left to take them in the house.

I led Dia to the center of the round pen, and started to teach her how to yield her forequarters with my stick. She easily did this. With the right foundation I was giving her, she could do anything. I thought it was time to move on. I flexed her head, keeping it bent and on the count of three, I hoisted myself up halfway onto her. She side stepped a tiny bit, but with her head flexed she couldn't buck me off, she was off balance. I rubbed all over her like a human curry comb, making sure to touch everywhere I could reach. Then, I slid my leg all the way over her, still in the laying down position. I quickly flexed her head to the other side, not giving her the chance to start bucking. I then rubbed her all over, using my arms and legs. I slid off and rewarded her, stroking her neck. She nuzzled me and I gently stroked the top of her face. I went to the other side and repeated, so she wouldn't be one-sided. Whew, that was a good training session. I had something else planned after, but I hadn't anticipated this going so well. Tomorrow, I decided, I would start lunging for respect.

▹▹ dogs freaked her out
▹▹ curious about new people
▹▹ did well with Jeffrey's method
▹▹ didn't do lunging for respect

training update ;;
Wild -> ★☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆
Human Contact -> ★★★★★★★★☆
Clinton Anderson Fundamentals Training -> ★★★★★★☆☆☆☆
Western Pleasure/Show Horse Training -> ☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆
Bridleless Training -> ☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆
Trail/Obstacle Training -> ☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆

[`Hypnotic]

DAY 5 ▹▹ TRAINING

▹▹ Jeffrey's method ☑
▹▹ lunging for respect ☑
▹▹ desensitize to bullwhip, pool noodles, and mother ☑
▹▹ work on flexing and backing five minutes each ☑
▹▹ release in jumping arena ☑

I saw at the round mahogany breakfast table for once, instead of dashing out the door. Today was a completely different day than all of the others. I would start desensitizing her to new objects. I would also try and sit up on her today. Of course I wasn't going to try and ride her, I still didn't know how she would do with that. But I would surely keep her flexed and let her feel the weight of a human on her. I would also let my mother do the desensitizing of the whip and string, so she could be well-rounded with people and not just respect me, but in turn respect all she comes across. My mother Neva looked at me from across the table, slight wrinkle lines across her face. Her blue eyes searched my green ones, looking for signs of nerves maybe? Probably. We nodded and got up, putting our dishes away. I grabbed my halter and stick, since I'd been out to the barn to put the dogs up already and today I also had the bullwhip. Of course I wasn't going to use it on her, but I decided that I would start doing more and more desensitizing, so she was used to anything on the trail.

I also thought that tomorrow I would start the saddling process. It would take probably one to three days and on the third day I would get on her, then get off her, to know that saddling doesn't always mean work. Well, I guess I'd have to move her to the big arena then, wouldn't I? No more round pen. Today, I'd take her out after we were done.

We walked to the barn together in silence, enjoying the sunrise here in Oklahoma. It wasn't hot yet, but it surely would get hot real soon. The summers were always the worst, that's why I liked to work with Dia more towards the morning time. My mother and I walked in silence until we reached the round pen, and then my mother clucked to Dia. I watched somewhat happily as Dia wouldn't come near her. My mother opened the dark green gate, laid the purple halter on it, then walked inside. She did a tiny bit of the round pen exercises before Dia came right up to her, trusting her. My mother slowly put the purple rope halter on her, and started to desensitize her like I have been doing the past few days. After that, it was my turn.

I entered the pen, holding the bullwhip with my right hand, so we would start on her "good" side, the left side. At first, I cracked it only a tiny bit, so as to see what Dia could start with. Dia stood there, un-amused but not moving. This time I cracked it a little bit louder and she still didn't move. I kept on progressing, until finally I got the loudest boom I could out of it. Still, nothing. She obviously trusted me quite a bit. I moved to the other side, repeating the same steps. The first two or three medium cracks made her move, but I just kept cracking with the same intensity and rewarded her for standing still and relaxing, letting her know that was the right choice. I lead her over to the fence again, where my mother had left two or three different colored pool noodles.

I picked up the green one and waved it next to her and she shied, pulling on me, I followed her and just kept following her until she stood still. After 15 seconds, she still didn't relax, but I rewarded her for trusting me. I did this on both sides until I could rub her all over with all three different colored noodles. After this, I went back to yielding the forequarters, hindquarters, flexing on both sides, and all methods of backing. Now, it was time for lunging for respect. I sent her off in a C, then yielded the hindquarters and pointed the other way, making her move closer and closer between me and the fence, getting her used to tight spaces. This would also help her get used to stalls, believe it or not. But I would first put her in the stall with a run, so she still had some freedom if she got claustrophobic. Anyways, I moved her away to all different sides and then did it in the center of the round pen.

To end our session, I did the Jeffrey's method starting again, flexed then got up, rubbing her. I then flexed to the other side and sat up on her, instead of laying down. She swung her hips to the left side and I hung on with my thighs, but after a minute or two she stopped. I reached down and switched the purple rope to my left hand and flexed her head to the left and hopped off, stroking her neck. She looked at me expectantly, but I didn't turn her loose. I lead her over to the gate and opened it, backing her out from the gate. I backed her all the way to the large arena, then turned her around. I turned her in a circle in my jumping arena and I could see my mother watching from the barn. I turned her loose, walking away from her, not her walking away from me. I shut the gate and watched her reaction. The lowered her head and sniffed some of my cross rails, and oddly jumped over the plain white one. I stood by Neva and we laughed together. She pricked her ears in our direction, but went back to investigating the jumps.

▹▹ tried to jump
▹▹ shied a little while sitting on
▹▹ trusts me a fair amount
▹▹ ready for saddle and blanket preparations

gif coming soon </3

training update ;;
Wild -> ☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆
Domesticated -> ★★★★★★★★★
Clinton Anderson Fundamentals Training -> ★★★★★★☆☆☆☆
Western Pleasure/Show Horse Training -> ☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆
Bridleless Training -> ☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆
Trail/Obstacle Training -> ★☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆

[`Hypnotic]

DAY 8 ▹▹ SADDLING TRAINING

▹▹ desensitize to stick, lead rope, bullwhip ☐
▹▹ desensitize to pad and saddle ☑
▹▹ introduce bridle ☑

Mondays certainly weren't my days. My hair was messier than usual and my clothes were too. I quickly strode out to the nice barn I had and saw Dia standing in her small pasture, eyes closed, back left leg cocked. I slowed my pace and got her halter on her. I lead her back into the round pen where I placed my lightweight training saddle with a flex tree in it. A 16" one, with enough room to easily move around. I started with throwing the blanket towards the air, desensitizing her to it. She stood there and sighed, showing how much she trusted me. I did this on both sides then went back to her left side. I finally threw it up on her, then took it off, in a repeating rhythm. I did this too, on both sides until she was comfortable. After she was comfortable on both sides, I put the blanket back on the ground. I took the 15lb saddle by the horn and swung it up by her back, and she skittered away. That way ok, I just kept moving the saddle until she relaxed. I did this on both sides also. I then repeated like what I did with the blanket, leaving it on her back. She was a little unrest as first but within 30 minutes she was a pro at relaxing. I grabbed the loose ring snaffle off the round pen fence, putting my rope reins over her neck, I taught her to open her mouth to the bit and she quickly adapted to taking it without having to stick my fingers in the side of her mouth.

It was about an hour, so I quit her there, thinking that was good enough. I let her back into her pen by the barn, and went back and got her tack. I put it away and fed her some grain. I grabbed a hoof pick and strode back out to her pasture. She curiously looked at me as I picked up her hooves and picked them out, realizing I'd have to call the farrier ASAP, because her feet were bad. I couldn't ride her like that. He'd have to come out tomorrow, before I could continue training. I put my pick away, went back to the house, and called the farrier to come out tomorrow morning, ASAP.

▹▹ shied at saddle
▹▹ did great with bridle
▹▹ accepted blanket
▹▹ estimated time to ride is Saturday or Sunday

gif coming soon </3

training update ;;
Wild -> ☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆
Domesticated -> ★★★★★★★★★
Saddling Training -> ★☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆
Clinton Anderson Fundamentals Training -> ★★★★★★☆☆☆☆
Western Pleasure/Show Horse Training -> ☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆
Bridleless Training -> ☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆
Trail/Obstacle Training -> ★☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆