Day 126

Short day booo. Also, it was not 50 degrees like I'd hoped. But we did get to open the big doors to the aisles and arena to see the light of the wonderful world today!

All the snow and ice has pretty much melted, and for three horses who haven't been outside to play since before I can remember, they weren't too excited! We let them out in the small paddocks today and they only bucked and ran for a few minutes, then just stood around and enjoyed the sunshine, which is definitely a great thing for anyone to do as this winter breaks. =] And! I got to apply the Yo-Yo Game in real life for the first time today with Brie! We were leaving the paddock and I didn't want to awkwardly back her up with the gate, since it opens inwards, and possibly be squished, so I was like "Hmm...Yo yo game?" and while it took a couple times for her to understand that I wanted her to pause and wait a minute and let me ask her to step forward, she was a total doll and stood patiently until I was out of the paddock, holding the gate aside for her to come out.

I only worked with Brie today. I was being very slow about brushing her and saddling up. I decided to try something new and goofy too. We have poles that are guides for figure 8s, but they were moved to the sides and the PVC covers come off, so I took one off and set it on the ground in the arena and worked with Brie to step over it. At first she was like "OH MY GOD SCARY WILD WHITE POLE MONSTER AHHH!" and just kept eyeballing and snorting at it, going around it and never over, but after a few sniffs and a tap, she pretty much had the idea. So after I walked with her over it for a while, I sent her out to lunge over it. It was so cute, she kept approaching it like it was a 5 ft jump when it's just this little 8 inch high pole with the most determined look on her face. We worked on actually walking over it while I was on her.

Tomorrow, hopefully I'll get to ride Harry. Maybe Nina too.

Oh! And Brie had this horrible habit of throwing her head while on cross ties when you wanted to kiss her nose (which we're all guilty of doing with Harry and Nina...I know, I know, one day I might be sorry with a broken nose, I just can't help it) so I was teaching her to not toss her head by holding a carrot down so she could grab a bite as I kissed her. Today it was so funny, after I rode and she cooled, I was going to give her a carrot and I just said "Gimme a kiss" and put my head forward a bit like I had been doing when holding the carrot down last week, and she held her nose out to let me kiss her! Multiple times! I just thought that was so cute =]