Updating

Where we are now.

Yeager started consistent work on the ground the last week in Jan. We worked on general ground manners, moving away to pressure, his "whoa", leading without bolting at every scary noise, and some exposure to trails. We also worked on slowly increasing his turnout time.

He knocked over a gate (scratching his butt on it, the clumsy!) and stepped through it causing some decent sized lacerations on his right hind. No stitches were needed, but it meant two days of stall rest, handwalking and wrapping. He also couldn't be turned out in the muddy turnouts because of the really slippery/icy footing.

The beginning of March we began regular workouts on the lunge. I added long lining once the bucking fits stopped. He is now working 3-4x a week, depending on the weather and his energy level.

On March 8, after his usual lunging working, a friend helped me out on the ground and I sat on him for the first time. Once I was on, we stood quietly, walked on the lunge, halted. He handled it very well. I rode him again on Tues and took him off the lunge. Again, he was super. He had Wed off, lunged with side reins on Thurs(we worked on transitions) and had an easy Friday (hand walking over poles and around a jump course).