Gracie has been a very clever girl the last few weeks.
I've managed to get a rubber straight bar snaffle into her mouth, with treacle on it initially, not any more. No bridle, just the bit. She's slipping it in and out like a yo-yo. Thinks it's great to chew like every other baby.
I've had a bridle on her without the bit, so she gets the feel of me putting it over her ears. That's not a problem.Didn't expect it, she's used to a halter.
When I started rugging her, I started with a numnah, then my coat so that it would make rug-type noises, and then the rug. She was a bit scared of it, but not too bad, and came along very quickly. But you do still have to show her the rug every time and let her sniff it. She won't let you unceremoniously just bung it on her back.
So have started putting a saddle cloth on her back, and holding it on with a surcingle. Want her to get over this ticklish armpits thing by the time she has to wear a girth. I don't do up the surcingle tight yet. By this summer I'd like to be able to get a saddle on her back, and start working just a lttle tiny bit at the mounting block, my style. So that she doesn't know any different when the time comes. She's just two now....so we've got a while until she's backed. I'll do some long reining when the time is right. Put the scooter in free wheel and off we go!!
She's being a very good girl.I'm very proud of her. OK maybe everyone else's neddy does this too, but Grace has to ut up with me doing things in my own little way. She'd have such a shock if she went for formal schooling now! But I think the person schooling her would be equally shocked too!
I've managed to get a rubber straight bar snaffle into her mouth, with treacle on it initially, not any more. No bridle, just the bit. She's slipping it in and out like a yo-yo. Thinks it's great to chew like every other baby.
I've had a bridle on her without the bit, so she gets the feel of me putting it over her ears. That's not a problem.Didn't expect it, she's used to a halter.
When I started rugging her, I started with a numnah, then my coat so that it would make rug-type noises, and then the rug. She was a bit scared of it, but not too bad, and came along very quickly. But you do still have to show her the rug every time and let her sniff it. She won't let you unceremoniously just bung it on her back.
So have started putting a saddle cloth on her back, and holding it on with a surcingle. Want her to get over this ticklish armpits thing by the time she has to wear a girth. I don't do up the surcingle tight yet. By this summer I'd like to be able to get a saddle on her back, and start working just a lttle tiny bit at the mounting block, my style. So that she doesn't know any different when the time comes. She's just two now....so we've got a while until she's backed. I'll do some long reining when the time is right. Put the scooter in free wheel and off we go!!
She's being a very good girl.I'm very proud of her. OK maybe everyone else's neddy does this too, but Grace has to ut up with me doing things in my own little way. She'd have such a shock if she went for formal schooling now! But I think the person schooling her would be equally shocked too!