Saturday, October 13, 2007

Could this be the last beautiful day, time will tell.

Best laid plans ruined once again. I slept in after staying up watching the movie so Wy didn't get his pre-agility decompression in. I must really start running in the morning. We got to class in plenty of time. This is good and bad. We waited in the lobby but he knows, oh yeah, he knows . . . we head to the door and insta-pull begins. I, the leader of this team, am laying down the law! I asked Wyatt to heel and walk towards the door. It happens for all of one stride and again with the pull - treat or no treat he wants to get there was fast as he can. I pull out the big guns - rabbit skin. This gets his attention and we, the team, stride through the doorway into agility land. Now it is rabbit or no rabbit he wants to do everything he sees and begins barking. Little did Wy know I had a plan . . . the bark bottle. I calmly set my partially spilled pop up and grab my weapon. I wait patiently, knowing it is just a matter of time before, yes! There! He barks, I spray and oh, the look I am given! I wait knowing the JRT he will need to test one more time and yes, he barks, I spray. Wyatt pulls out his favorite weapon against me, the how could you look, usually this works but I am most determined. Whenever Wyatt is quiet he gets a treat if he barks he gets sprayed. He thought maybe if we move away from that area it will cease - no it goes where he goes - bummer. You have to admire his determination to do what he wants.

We then go onto the floor to practice heeling and side around the obstacals. He is much better this week than last. If he barks out there I put him in a down. Let's hope I can stay consist and have the fortitude to get through this. Love the drive he has though.

We practiced sending. I sent Wyatt to the weave poles after defeating the away jumps (practice and discovery of a word not already in his vocabulary amazingly helps). The first time through the weaves he skipped a couple so we started over from the away jumps and he went through making a noise at each pole basically attacking. That's my boy!! Class was over before we knew it.

The turn into the barn is announced by the use of turn signal and rutting in the road (the kind to let dozers know they are going to crash), Wyatt and Pix then start their we're there, we're there behavior. I stop the truck and do not do anything until they are calm and off my lap. This can take quite a few minutes sometimes.

I got to the upper arena in time for L to finish riding Kans. She walked with us which is very good as Josie is learning she is not allowed to pin her ears or make threatening actions towards other horses while under saddle. Of course, if some rogue horse were to attack us I would hope she would break training and defend us. She didn't exactly throw a fit but she was interested in the fact that Kans was leaving.

I deemed her manner quite relaxed. We had throttle and brake in trot. I asked for a left lead canter and after a cople of running steps we got it. YAHOOO!!!! I kept her going on the circle (our version anyways) and did my best to relax and go with it. The big test was will she trot and YES! we made the transition to trot. I proceeded at trot and throttled up and down within the gait. Yes! We even had brakes. We walked on a long rein with me encouraging more walk. I tell her I want her on the trail walk - it is lovely - swinging and ground covering. After relaxing a bit I decide to ask for the right lead canter out of trot. The first time we got the left. I know she knows she is wrong as she immediately goes to trot and the next beat I ask for canter and there it is. Again, we circle and circle. I am able to keep our version of a circle even going past the gate - wonderful break through. With the temps we are both hot and sweaty. I decide to be Extremetj and we mosey on down to the cross country course. I remained in the saddle until we get close to the jumps. I dismount and we walked up to each. The tire jump was the scariest. I then mounted (can't practice enough) and we rode around and by the various jumps - no worries Mate! Have I said lately how much I love Josie!?!?