Saturday, October 6, 2007

Agility at 9:00 a.m. No chance to wear the Wy Guy down. This was one of those humbling lessons. Wyatt started barking just being inside the building. For warm up Wy and I practiced the art of heeling around the equipment. He is getting better about it - not taking them. SIDE (heeling on the right) has improved immensly. We learned today that I cannot send Wy to a jump from a distance. There were three jumps two to be taken and one for me to stay behind - ha, ha, ha! Wyatt took the first and then came and took the one I was behind. At least we have something to practice and practice and practice.

They put the guides back up on the weave poles. Wyatt took three times before he would do it. S also made a tricky one for us - take the jumps, front cross and take the tunnel which was under A-Frame. Wy and I did actually pretty good at this. I was very pleased that I figured to put a front cross in so he wouldn't take the dog walk after the jump. I just crossed my fingers for the tunnel versus the A-Frame. The down side being the jump after the tunnel - he went into a few spins which would cost us at a show. More reason to practice him working away. I also figured out I was using OUT which means get out of the pasture at the barn. So far I am thinking of using AWAY - can I bring this to mind under pressure hmmmmm not sure.

Pix was mad at both of us when I got her out of the truck. I will bring the kennel inside next time. As long as she can see us she will be happy.

We went to the barn afterwards. To make amends with Pix we went for a walk. For the first time I took them all the way to the lake. Wyatt was crazed. He would run ahead, find something really stinky, roll and get muddy. I didn't care as I knew what would be at the end of the lane. They both raced ahead and jumped in. Found a piece of bark to throw in. Pix only went under once. Gotta love the eyebrows! The water wasn't too bad of a temperature. Once it becomes chilly I will need to take into consideration the fact that they will run ahead and ump in no matter what the temp. There was much running and rowdiness on the way back.

I lounged Josie for the first time. With all this rain there was a lot of standing water in the arenas so I used the old outdoor. First I made sure she would circle in both directions and stop. Next, I used side reins for the first time. I had them loose so she wouldn't get claustophobic. As time goes on I will shorten them one hole at a time. We had only one yahoo/slip at the canter otherwise she did very well.

I hand grazed her and then put her back out to pasture. The pups and I went for a late lunch. OMG I ate way to much. We lazed around a bit until I could move again. I saddled Josie up and we did some work in the upper arena. She did fairly well today. So much hoopla after we canter. I need to figure out how to deal with this. Afterwards, she saw her feedbag and went a bit unruly. I gave her a smack on the neck and she settled down. I think the grain is going to her head these days.