Doc has been pretty frisky lately. I took him out to trot yesterday, and before we started, we played our 7 games. I felt like I had a wild mustang on my hands. He was one of those horses with a lot more "go" than "whoa". When we circled, I would ask for a trot, and I would get a gallop. Then, when I tried to disengage his rear end, I got a rearing horse! We definitely had a few lessons in who was boss. Needless to say, we didn't go very far from home on our trot.
Today, he was a completely different horse. Doc was energetic, but attentive. He was willing to try anything I asked, as long as I went slow. I tied him to a tree while I treated his wounds, and we had lots of lessons in standing still and softness. I was patient with him, and rewarded him for the slightest try. We built our partnership today by being respectful of each other. On our trot down the road, he was much more respectful, and we did lots of "follow me" exercises. He was so soft when he followed me that I couldn't even feel him on the rope.
Alicia tells me that Doc is now best friends with her horse, "Rolex". The two of them spend their days mutually grooming over the round pen fence. We are thinking of letting the two of them out in a pen together. We won't be able to release Doc into the general population of horses (with mares) for two months, but it sure will be good for him to have a horse buddy.
We'll post photos when (and if) the introduction happens!
~Jackie
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