I know I've said this a million times, but Zoë is unlike any horse I've ever had before. That's a good thing. I was definitely ready for the new challenges, but they are still challenges.
um never had a horse let me do this before <3 |
I started a new job last week, which is fantastic. However. It's mentally a lot of work to learn a whole different way of doing things.
Plus daylight savings time.
Plus fall/winter weather arriving.
All of which equaled not necessarily wanting to saddle up and go for it after work in the dark on a baby.
Especially on a baby who is a little bit coming into her own and enjoying the fall weather. Nothing she's doing is bad or unmanageable, but it means I need to get on and ride or like, not.
smooshes gotta smoosh |
such a fancy lady! |
We hadn't actually used said implement since Zoë graduated to the big arena for canter practice. It's out of the way and I hadn't really thought about it and I'm not really a "round pen" person in terms of wanting a horse to pointlessly run circles.
But when it's late and I'm tired and forgot my lunge line in the tack room? Oh hell yeah I'm learning to be a round pen person.
#effor |
Another challenge I've been dealing with is that Zoë's bugaboo is loose horses running around--if the pasture horses take off when I'm working her, she gets very distracted. She hasn't been naughty about it under saddle yet, but it's definitely a topic we come back to.
unrelated but how cute is she? |
But you know how to eliminate those variables?
Oh yeah round pen. NIFTY.
So yup. Put her in the round pen. Horse outside went a little nutso. Zoë was like WUT R THAT MUST CHECK OUT and I was immediately able to send her forward and put her to work and get her attention back on me and work through it in a couple minutes without ever pulling on her face or worrying about losing control.
you're getting weekend pics because 1) we are adorbs and 2) the lighting is hella better |
this angle hides how dirty her tail is |
I've never had access to a round pen. I've never really cared, but now reading this I'm like ohhhh, one of those would be really nice!
ReplyDeleteIt's never been a priority for me, but it's been really handy this go-round. (See what I did there.)
DeleteBefore we built the arena, all I had at home to ride in was a round pen. I loved it for many of the reasons you mentioned, and from time to time I miss it! But it's so cool that you're figuring out ways to work on such a variety of things with miss ZB ☺️ even with a new job and limited daylight.
ReplyDeleteI keep reminding myself that we're like 5-6 weeks til the days start getting longer. Ick.
DeleteThe most wonderful things about babies is that whatever you do is training. (that's also teh bad part too but let's not dwell on that. #myhorsehasbaggage). She doesn't need hours and hours- just a bit of time goes so far.
ReplyDeleteRepetition is definitely more for us than for them. :-)
Deletecongrats on the new job! i know that's been a major thing for like.... a while now, must feel good to have it settled! also awesome that things are working out with le baby horse re: bootcamp and other training opportunities when the drive to ride just isn't always there!!
ReplyDeleteHa yeah the ammy struggle is real. I'm handling a lot right now, but I definitely think next spring is going to be better than right now.
Deletecongrats on job!! and she is still the cutest. I LOVE Round pens (got into them in Texas and wish more people had them up in the NorthEast). I agree it beats wear and tear pulling on horses mouth lunging when they feel ummm..fresh? SPeaking of my 14 coming on 15 acts just like Zoe when horses elsewhere take off. NOT fun :) HA so excited about her schoolwork coming up :)
ReplyDeleteSo much of what we're doing right now is just figuring each other out and figuring out what our expectations are of each other. Every bit helps.
DeleteZoe smart. Zoe cute.
ReplyDeleteI'm also learning the value of the round pen right now because I have a nutty ottb I don't ride often enough and he recently got separated from his boyfriend and he is not ok with that so there is much screaming and much nuttiness.
God be with you.
DeleteWhy did I think this was a good idea? Should've kept the Zoe-like pony.
DeleteAt least I didn't die today?
Every time I get a new horse I really wish I had a round pen. Glad you're making good use of yours! Sounds like miss Zoe continues to be world's best baby horse!
ReplyDeleteCongrats on the new job too!
Thanks!!
Delete“Unexpected Bonus” made me think #Zoepreggers LOL, but roundpen epiphanies are good too 😂
ReplyDeleteWe clearly have different ideas of what a bonus is. ;-)
DeleteZoë go round!!!! I'm so jealous of the laying down picture.
ReplyDeleteMaybe it's a thing now.
DeleteCongrats on the new job.
ReplyDeleteAnd I love the things I can teach in a round pen. It's how I established everything with Grif in the beginning. I credit it with helping us to build the foundation for our incredible partnership. I'll always make sure I have one now!
I love finding one more way to learn to communicate. ;-)
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