Life Outside of the Round Pen

I just can't sing the praises of my Amicus enough! This week he has built on the foundation we laid together over the course of our first week together. So new updates- we left the round pen! On Tuesday night after our lesson (and after dark...), I thought he might enjoy nibbling on a little grass. My goal was to make it out of the lights of the round pen and into the dark abyss of the pasture, around to the other side of the barn, where another horse was being worked in the arena. At first he was a little iffy about walking through the gate, leaving all he knew of the Bar T behind. After just a minute of taking in the outside world while straddling the threshold, it wasn't too terribly difficult to persuade my dear Amicus out of the round pen when he realized there was grass on the other side! The hard part was keeping his attention on me instead of the grass :)

He followed me along the perimeter very well! He only had one tiny "ohmygosh" moment when he encountered a roping dummy toward the end of the barn. After the initial shock, he marched right on up to it, gave it a quick once-over, then decided all was well. Once we made it around to the arena I gave him his head and let him eat. Despite the darkness (who knows what kind of monsters lurk around in the dark), the other horses, the other people, and all the new contraptions, he did so well! He never balked...not once!

The next day (Wednesday), I took him out of the round pen and into the pasture before our lesson. I gave him about thirty minutes of "Amicus Time," and let him roam unattended around the pasture. I think he was appreciative. The best part? He actually walked toward me when I went to catch him. Lovely!

The big triumph Wednesday night was, hands-down, getting on his back. I desensitized him pretty well, then hopped up and laid across his back. He totally didn't care. I got on and off from both sides...nothing! Before that, he learned how to lunge. Again, a non-issue. He's so very smart; after about ten minutes, he was comfortable and perceptive enough to change directions with only a small step (in front of him), and a point of the hand. Great guy!

Tonight (Thursday) I repeated everything he's learned until now, then put the saddle on him :) Again, it was not even a big deal. I didn't, however, cinch him up tonight because it was pitch-dark, and, if/when he bucks, I want pictures! You do too, right?

My Amicus

I've had my little man for just over a week now. I'm in love! I've always been a mare kind of girl...I've never really been interested enough in a particular gelding to give him a chance. I tell you, if this little fella is any indication of what geldings are normally like, I can't believe what I've been missing! Such heart.

Let's get you up to date. First off, I've named him, and it wasn't exactly a process I took lightly. It had to be just perfect. I landed on "Amicus," which is Latin for "friend." He and I have given our trust to the other without question, much like good friends trust in each other when confronted with a daunting situation.

He takes every lesson head-on, m

eeting each challenge with curiosity and confidence; he's not afraid of anything! I've picked up his front feet, disengaged his hindquarters and forequarters, and wrapped ropes and whips (and anything else I could get my hands on) around his back feet and under his belly. He leads well, will stand willingly for a bath, and even tolerates the squeaky fly spray bottle. The icing on the cake? He'll walk beside me all around the round pen, sans lead rope. It even took Holly (last year's EMM mustang) longer than that to learn that to latch on when asked. He's an intelligent and perceptive little bugger. I'll post videos soon :)

I hope to have him under saddle within the next week and, as long as the weather stays nice, it shouldn't be a problem at all. I can't wait!

He Who Remains Nameless...

Hey y'all! If you followed my blog last year, welcome back! If you're new to the blog, or the Extreme Mustang Makeover in general, visit www.extrememustangmakeover.com for a little background information.

I'm happy to report that I'll be competing in the under-saddle portion of the 2009 Extreme Mustang Makeover: Eastern Stampede this year alongside my little (or not so little...) brother! My father (www.thebartmustangproject.blogspot.com) is sitting this year's competition out to support the two of us. Do I have a great Daddy or what?

I have a feeling things will get pretty heated between my little brother, Chapin, and me. I think we're what you might call "competitive."

Okay, now on to the good stuff! I was paired up with this little doll of a gelding. He's about 14.2 hands tall, dark bay (nearly black), with two white stockings and a white blaze. He has a very refined face, and large intelligent eyes. He looks almost like a little Arabian! Not at all like the mustangs I'm used to seeing. And his temperament? I'm so blessed again this year. So far, he's the perfect picture of a willing partner *knock on wood*! He's alert, but without being timid; confident, but without being pushy; he's curious, gentle, and seems to be very intelligent. I couldn't have hand-selected a better partner!

I didn't get started with him until this past Sunday (I was out of the country; the boys were sweet enough to pick him up for me!), but we hit the ground running! Sunday, Day One, he didn't so much as snort at me! At the beginning of our lesson, I ran him around the round pen for just a second...just long enough to get his attention, then started working on disengaging his hindquarters to get both eyes looking at me. He picked up on the concept very quickly. I slowly moved closer and closer, making little crescents around him to keep him pointed my di

rection. Before too terribly long, I was within just a few feet of him! Chapin was encouraging me through the whole process. I had a total girl moment when he asked, "Can you feel his breath yet?" as the mustang reached his nose forward. I must say, I got a little teary

eyed :) He ended up closing the gap between the two of us by touching his nose to my hand. What an awesome experience! There is nothing like that first touch between a mustang and a human. At that point, I felt like we had made enough progress for the first day.

On Day Two, I ended up working with the little fella twice. The first time was before I left for work in the morning. We just recapped all the lessons from the day before. Later that evening, I worked on the human touch a little more. My triumph for Day Two? I got his neck tag off! Yay!

Day Three (Tuesday/today) I worked on increasing his tolerance of human touch. I can advance from the front and from both sides, and rub all the way down his neck to his withe

rs

on both sides. He'll even let me rub his ears! He's really a great little guy. So great, in fact, that I can't settle on a name because I want it to be perfect!! Any ideas?