It's been a while since I've posted anything, not because I haven't done anything, but because I've just been too busy.But today was awesome! I've been working with Indy this week - just lots of the 7 games - and today I introduced the bareback pad. It was such a non-event that it looked like someone had been working with her behind my back! There really hasn't been anything that has fazed Indy. She reminds me so much of what Gypsy was like at this age... everything is A-ok.
I put the bareback pad on her (note to self: get a smaller girth for these fillies... even with cinch 
tightened right to the buckle, it's only snug enough not to fall off, not enough to keep it from moving), and nothing happened. She always starts by wanting to chew everything I introduce to her, so obviously she's completely unconcerned. Then when she let go of the bareback pad, I threw that on her back as well and cinched it up. No reaction. So I asked her to move around me in the round pen. She'd take a few steps and stop and look at me or graze. So I added more pressure and she tossed her head and started trotting around. Nothing bothered her. So I asked her to keep trotting and turn into me to change direction a few times. She did everything perfectly. 
tightened right to the buckle, it's only snug enough not to fall off, not enough to keep it from moving), and nothing happened. She always starts by wanting to chew everything I introduce to her, so obviously she's completely unconcerned. Then when she let go of the bareback pad, I threw that on her back as well and cinched it up. No reaction. So I asked her to move around me in the round pen. She'd take a few steps and stop and look at me or graze. So I added more pressure and she tossed her head and started trotting around. Nothing bothered her. So I asked her to keep trotting and turn into me to change direction a few times. She did everything perfectly. 
After some yoyo, circle and driving game, I decided to sit on the fence above her and ask her to come closer. After lots of friendly game (and because she started ignoring me), I swung my leg over her back and settled my weight on her while still holding on to the fence. NO REACTION. Again, a complete non-event.
By this time, the kids were home from school, so Holly took a couple pictures of us while I had Indy walk around. She was more interested in grazing the grass than she was in me! Pretty cool! Next time I'll try the saddle. Since the bareback pad, girth or me riding her doesn't seem to faze her, I suspect the saddle won't be a 
problem. We'll practice mounting from both sides and see how she does. What a star! I was so proud of her!
problem. We'll practice mounting from both sides and see how she does. What a star! I was so proud of her!She still has to work on moving forward more. Every time I picked up the lead line while on her back, she'd back up rather than turn or move forward. Maybe some more ground work using the driving game. She did move a couple steps forward when I squeezed her and held the squeeze for a few seconds, but not more than that. She's going to be the opposite of Skittles as far as her impulsion is concerned. Indy seems to have more whoa than go. I was pretty pleased with how everything went though. Very cool!
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