Yes, it's been six months already. Topaz is up to about 970 lbs. 
It's been a roller coaster of not eating, then not drinking, not wanting to be bridled, not standing to be mounted, not picking feet up, not doing... well anything, really.
And now she's almost a well-mannered horse. She's easy to catch, tie, grooming, tack and mount. She stands for the vet, mostly stands for the farrier (but she gets better about it every time he comes!) and will stand quietly while tied. You can just pop the bit into her mouth now and she'll pick up her feet and hold them for anyone. She'll stand and wait for you to take her halter off when turning out, and drops her head on command to make it easier. She leads quietly, and walks and trots, halts, backs-up and pivots in hand on command. She'll occassionally do a square set-up, but we're working on it. She lunges, and is learning to long-rein (well, okay, she's had one session today, but we're planning on more).
She's good at the walk and trot under saddle, and while she's only being cantered on the lunge, she's getting better. RI can canter her just fine and make her do anything, so we know she's capable of it, we just need to learn how to handle her. She's learning she can canter, and then come back to a walk and stay at a walk and that's just fine. She can happily canter a twenty metre circle without breaking gait. She only reared the once (very small) and she hasn't bucked in quite awhile. Her paces are to die for and she's learning to collect herself. She never picks up a wrong lead. She also did some impressive (impromptu ) leg yields today with the long-reins.
And now the pictures, taken today:
(Assuming we register her, anyone want to put a price on her? She's Appaloosa, 14.2hh, 13 years old, touch of arthritis which doesn't bother her once she's warmed up.)
It's been a roller coaster of not eating, then not drinking, not wanting to be bridled, not standing to be mounted, not picking feet up, not doing... well anything, really.
And now she's almost a well-mannered horse. She's easy to catch, tie, grooming, tack and mount. She stands for the vet, mostly stands for the farrier (but she gets better about it every time he comes!) and will stand quietly while tied. You can just pop the bit into her mouth now and she'll pick up her feet and hold them for anyone. She'll stand and wait for you to take her halter off when turning out, and drops her head on command to make it easier. She leads quietly, and walks and trots, halts, backs-up and pivots in hand on command. She'll occassionally do a square set-up, but we're working on it. She lunges, and is learning to long-rein (well, okay, she's had one session today, but we're planning on more).
She's good at the walk and trot under saddle, and while she's only being cantered on the lunge, she's getting better. RI can canter her just fine and make her do anything, so we know she's capable of it, we just need to learn how to handle her. She's learning she can canter, and then come back to a walk and stay at a walk and that's just fine. She can happily canter a twenty metre circle without breaking gait. She only reared the once (very small) and she hasn't bucked in quite awhile. Her paces are to die for and she's learning to collect herself. She never picks up a wrong lead. She also did some impressive (impromptu
) leg yields today with the long-reins. And now the pictures, taken today:
(Assuming we register her, anyone want to put a price on her? She's Appaloosa, 14.2hh, 13 years old, touch of arthritis which doesn't bother her once she's warmed up.)
