The Past Week...

Last weekend, on Saturday, I had a session with Cal in the arena.  We didn't do much, but it went well.  He seemed pretty relaxed and rolled and yawned.  I did not want to play with him on Sunday after that session, but after all day thinking about it and wanting to play and I went out.  As expected, his confidence had gona down a bit.  I don't think I pushed him over any threshholds that day, but I wasn't as patient as I think I should have been.  Due to a mixture of that not-so-great session and the week's weather, I didn't play at all during the week.  Instead I took pictures and just spent time with them.  That was good, though.  The horses were all in a very playful mood and kept running over to see me when I went out.  One time I took the dogs out with me and I was calling them over, and the horses came running before the dogs did!  =D

Anyway, I finally played again today.  Had a super session.  Wandered around the entire lower pasture with confidence.  Also did quite a bit of trottting while driving from zone 3.  And worked on moving back to zones 4 and 5.  Then I hopped on and rode for a bit!  Just played some friendly game, practiced moving the hind end and the front end, and then walking approach and retreat from the herd, pretty much like I've been doing on the ground.

Still haven't been able to make it through the chute to the arena pasture or into the arena, but I feel like we're getting closer!