Lazy Weekend

Whisper has had a pretty easy weekend. We did a little bit of groundwork yesterday – just enough to see that he’d forgotten nothing and is doing a bit better on his turns. Then we did the grooming /feet cleaning thing and he went back to his pasture while I went to get my mare so we could go riding. She made me feel bad for her. She was trying to be aloof but when she saw I had her halter she actually stuck her nose in it. I saddled her up with the Bob Marshall endurance saddle I am trying out and we joined her buddy Doc and went hill climbing. The saddle is great. I think it’s more comfortable than my western saddle although my first loping experience was less than entertaining. Spice (my mare) enjoys loping down the road and normally I do also. But this was the first time I’d ever used a not-western saddle. Add to that she was behind Doc and it slipped my mind that lately she will not willingly lope behind another horse. So we were off with me bouncing around and yelling at my mother to slow Doc down. All the while Spice is stretching out and giving Doc the old pinned ears stink eye treatment. As soon as we passed him she collected nicely and was a perfect lady. She will be accompanying Whisper to training.

Meanwhile back at the pasture Whisper waited patiently for dinner and treats. He is such a good patient boy.

Today was cold and snowy so we did ‘in the barn’ stuff. With my mother encouraging him from behind I was actually able to get him to walk thru the gate out of his pasture. He has refused to use that gate since the first time he went thru it. I think he banged his hoof or something. Then he walked halfway into the wash rack. He was in far enough to tie so we did his grooming in there. Upon returning to his pasture he walked thru the gate again. I’m really pleased with that as taking a panel down to get him in and out is a pain. All in all he did very well. I am hoping that he is starting to trust that we won’t ask him to do anything that is beyond him. He may not want to do it but he is definitely giving us the benefit of the doubt.