Congress & Luke update

I went to QH Congress on Wednesday and then back on Saturday. Fun fun! I spent way too much money, but really, I didn't get anything fun...new sheets for the boys (okay, they're pink plaid, so kind of fun!), dewormer, vetrolin shine, 2 clips (www.theclip.info), lead ropes to go in them, and a couple things for my mom and dad to give me for Christmas. My feet are tired from walking and my arms are sore from carrying bags!

And it's been entirely too long since I've ridden my pony. Since my lesson last Saturday to be exact. It's gotten to the point where he's been such a jerk on the ground, I haven't wanted to deal with tacking him up. And I know that he won't get better unless I work on it. But I'm scared to discipline him for fidgeting in the ties, because then he pulls back and breaks his halter. So I bought two clips and hooked them up last night. And decided that now that I have that taken care of, and he won't get hurt if he pulls back, we're going to work on respect.

My parents came out to take fall pictures, and Luke was fidgety brushing him off, fidgety tacking up, and tried to drag me outside. So I popped him with the crop, and after he got over the initial scare, he behaved himself. And we managed some very nice pictures.

I went back out last night after all my homework was done (yuck!) and played with them. Got Jodi out and detangled his tail...I have no idea where he finds the burr bushes, but his tail was one big mat. We were able to get it out, sacrificing only a few hairs in the process. Then I put him back and went to get Luke. I told him that he couldn't be pushy. Not like he heard me :) I put him in the ties with the clip, and just messed around with him. At one point, I went out to turn the arena light on because I was going to ride (I couldn't get it turned on..boo), and he must have pulled back while I was gone. The clips did their job, and I came back to one calm pony, still attached but with slightly longer ropes. So I tightened them back up, and made him stand some more. He stood while I organized my locker, mixed up new moisturizer, swept the aisle, checked his bucket, etc. He was standing pretty calmly by the end. When he started dancing, I got after him, and after trying to pull back a little, he realized he had nothing to pull against and gave up. Yay! I am FAR from trusting him, but this is a BIG step in the right direction...last night, I enjoyed my horse again. For the first time in a while.

I'm going out tonight, to hopefully ride while the weather is nice and it's light out!