I had a really cool session with Saphira today. Third ride since coming home last weekend. I haven't ridden too much because I want her girth sores to heal. They're scabbed over right now... nearly dried up, so we're close.
I started today's session with just some 7 games again. She's pretty sticky on the driving game and I had to stay at phase 4 a few times trying to drive her front end around (popping her on the side of the head with the stick). She would occasionally turn her head away (which I gave relief for, but only for a few seconds), but wouldn't move her feet. Eventually she moved her feet sideways and I released. We repeated a couple more times and then she got it. And when she got it, she virtually SPUN away. Very cool. I hope it comes easier next time. Driving her hind away is easier, but at the start I still had to get to phase 4.
Circle is still tough for her. We started out with a struggle going to the right again ... always as she's coming around and away from the gate. I know it wasn't a squeeze this time (I made sure of it), she just wanted to go toward the gate and not away from it. But I was patient and persistent in asking her to continue around and finally she did. The first few circles to the right I had to re-send just about every quarter turn, but I kept it up until she was able to do one full circle, then I asked her to disengage. I gave her lots of pats and rubs and let her stand there a while before asking for the other direction. Going left only took about 3 sends before she made it around once without help.
I didn't do any squeeze or sideways. After finishing circling, I took her around to various obstacles to get her to touch/push or put her foot on it. At the pedestal, she stepped up right away this time (remembering the treat she got last time). At the ball she put her nose on it, but didn't push it. She got a treat. So when the wind blew the ball down the slope, I asked her to follow it and she did with great focus and when she touched it, she immediately looked back at me for her treat! Smart cookie! I can see that treats are going to be a major motivator for her! At the hoola-hoop she nosed it, then pawed at it.
After all that, I went and put the saddle on her. She stands so well for saddling. I still can't get either Gypsy or Skittles to stand that well! Once in the saddle, I asked her to trot around me both directions a couple times. It takes a lot of encouragement to get her into a trot, but we're getting better. Then I hopped on. Steering is working great... I barely move the rein at all to get her to turn her head. It's really lovely! But staying straight in one direction is definitely a challenge. We weaved around quite a bit to get from one side to the other. But she's is definitely responding well to both rein and leg pressure, so I'm very confident that straightness will come.
I trotted her today too. She kept wanting to go back to the gate, so I used that to get the trot. She wouldn't trot past the gate though, so I had to use the treat strategy to get that to work. First to get her to trot away from the gate, I had to use phase 4 (savvy string on the butt). But then when we got to the other side of the paddock she got a treat! This time we walked back to the gate, then asked for the trot... she walked faster, but I still needed the savvy string to get the trot. And she got another treat on the other side again. She really liked that idea. Then she turned toward the pedestal and stepped up! And again, looked for the treat! She's such a smartie-pants. And offering so much. I did give her treats since she's trying so hard for me. I know I can't keep that up, but I also want to continue to make these early sessions with her as positive as possible. THEN she meandered over to the hoola hoop and picked it up! She's such a cool horse. I'm getting such a kick out of her. I got off after that and called it a day. What a sweetie.
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