Arena work is kinda of like workbook homework. Got to do the exercises to be able to do the fun stuff. So that is what Cloud and I have been doing. Cloud hasn't protested too much, I think she would be classified as a nerd in school. You know the kid that likes to do the workbooks and get all the extra credit!
So arena work means that we are getting more particular about how she starts and stops, how she turns, how straight she goes from point to point, how well she follows the rail, how well she follows a circle, can she move one foot at a time, how precise can we be, you get the picture. All of this then building toward put these principles to purpose.
Purpose such as cow work. There are lots of ways to play with cows. And on ranch they probably wouldn't call it playing, but we who don't live on ranches see the opportunity to move cows around as playing. There is a lot of horsemanship that goes into getting a cow to go where you want it too. As ungainly as they might seem, cows can be fast, agile, and smart at getting away. Our favorite 5-star Parelli Instructor, Dave Ellis, says that only 1 out of 10 horses can beat a cow. So you have to be smart and be in the right place at the right time. Easily said...
Anyway, Cloud did wonderful in our 4 sessions or so that we have had in a proper arena. I am using the snaffle with slobber straps (leather pieces that connect the rein to the bit for more hinges, thus more information that the rein is about to be in use) with the hackamore underneath . Double reins if you like. I realized the other day making the reins different colors helps to know which one is which easily. She is taking the bit nicely (still mostly with molasses treat, but occasionally without). However, she is a bit fussy (pun sort of intended.) She is giving vertical flexion nicely with a very soft feel at the halt and back up, I haven't asked for more than that. But when using only the bit she tends to flip her head and say why are you doing that. So with a little more weight on the hackamore and a little less on the bit she is quiet. Time will help her accept it more and I will also perhaps try the cradle bridle once or twice. The cradle bridle combines the feel of the hackamore and the bit with the use of a specialize noseband (not tight, but connected to the movement of the bit) and a connection to the pole. More on that if we get to it.
Highlights: Canter departs, haunch turns, forehand turns, yo-yo (walk trot, stop, backup, trot etc).
She likes her right lead better than her left, so I practiced on that side till I got the left lead and then quit. Cloud has a very nice smooth canter, all her gaits really.
So on to the fun stuff! Cows! My friend Vicki has cows and she was willing to let me move a few around. There were two Steer waiting for the market in the close fields. So we went out and woke them up from their nap under the tree and moved them right up the fence into a smaller field. I then let Cloud follow them and get in rhythm. We then could start actually affecting their movements. Start and stop, turn etc. along the fence. On doing this we discovered a weak spot in the fence and didn't want the cows to go through so we changed the game to another field.
We let the cows rest while we got distracted with our horses making awful faces at each other. We decided that needed to be addressed so we played some games with getting them comfortable standing near one another. Cloud does have some issues around meeting new horses. She gets tense and I think defensive although it can look offensive.
Back to the cows and we moved them to the biggest of the fields. We were on track to move them right back to the napping tree, when we lost them off to the left. On analysis we realized that Vicki had left her jacket on the fence and they turned right before it and didn't want to go by it. Cows are very sensitive that way. That's ok, because it made for more fun getting them back. They actually separated and Cloud and I were able to move each one of them back to the gate which Vicki was guarding. Vicki's dog was not helping really and kept getting in front of my cow, but he just made it all the more a challenge.
So the arena work put to purpose. Cloud was being right with me and the cow, 7 weeks under saddle and she is already a cow pony!
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