Windy

But fairly warm. Up to 60 by this afternoon. The boys fed cows with me and the team and we almost lost our hats a couple times. Got quite a bit of carving done on the saddle today.
Here’s the latest up date on Brody from Horse Training 2.

Ol’ Brode is one broncy, cold backed scoundrel! I decided to re-do what I did yesterday, but this time, use a big, huge, rattly plastic bag I get grain in. They are like a huge sack. 4 feet by 4 feet by about 4 or 5 feet tall with flaps that go in the inside. Did I mention they are rattly? 😉

I drug one into the round pen then went and saddle the Brodmiester up, led him in there and he was all inquisitive about it. Walked over on his own pretty much and went to sniffing and pawing at it. I had it a ways away from the fence and he still walked over part of it. So I sent him back the other way. Again, more sniffing and trying to get it in his mouth. Might of helped that it smelled like soybean that they have been getting every day. I moved it up right next to the fence and then tried to get him to cross it. Not a problem for either side, so then I tried to get him to trot across it. He’d slow down and mince across, but eventually at the lope he would slow to a trot and cross it, from either side. So I got my rope down and put it around the sack, and hooked the rope over the horn with me holding the loose end and let him pull it from the horn. He was pretty watchy of it, but in no time I had it dragging right at his heels and his heel would clip it about every other stride. At first that would startle him slightly, but not too much. In a little while I was dragging it right at his flank and he’d watch it, but plumb trusted me. So I swapped sides and did the same and got the same results only maybe a little quicker. I also let him stand and drag it towards him from the front. He wanted to back p a little when it touched his front legs, but soon stood for it. So I took the rope off and wadded the sack up and set it on his back. Again he was watchy, but allowed me to do it and then pretty soon I had it draped over his neck and clear up almost over his ears. Wish I’d a had my camera. I took it off and then set it up from the other side and the same thing. Let him walk around while I lead him with it draped over him and hanging off his butt. If nothing else he would make a great pack horse!
Seeing as I had trouble moving his hind quarters over yesterday, I had my spurs and while standing beside him I would use the spur with my hand where it will hit while I am on him and got him to understand to yield from that. Never had to get to hard on him. Then I did it from the other side. When he was good about it I put my chaps and spurs on and stepped on and we worked on that. Eventually he got it figured out not to walk forward, but to just move his hip over one step. He is like all horses and better on one side than the other. He will back off slight pressure, one step at a time and also now yield to the pressure of my leg reinforced with the spur. Good place to quit so I did. Another great session!