Sunday, August 9, 2009

Routine has settled back into our lives. Pix has recovered from her swollen boobies and is looking and acting more normal.

I have noticed that Wyatt had put on a few pounds during our Pixie Hiatus. I am afraid to get on the scale. Please don't let me have put back on those four pounds.

Josie's exercise ball arrived last week. Today I brought it to the barn to see how she would react. Needless to say I was disappointed but yet elated when she took to it so well. I had watched the DVD and practiced in the arena without her to ensure I had ball handling skills. I lunged her both directions for just a few minutes. The ball had shifted its position to the corner of the arena. With Josie following a few feet behind, I walked up to the ball. Her look was of curiosity so as not to scare her I moved the ball slowly out of the corner and then proceeded to walk rolling the ball with her following. I switched directions a few times and nothing. She would put her nose on it while I bounced it in front of her. I bounced it higher. Part of me was wondering if she has done this before or does she just have so much more trust in me?

I started rolling it so it touch her front legs - nada! I bounced the ball off her front legs nothing. After last year's saddle bag fiasco I kept waiting for her to get upset. I can bounce it off her chest, shoulders, wither, along her ribcage and nothing. Twice it rolled on its own and went under her (the DVD said don't do this or all the way over) and she just stood there. It rolled once and hit her hind leg and she didn't kick at it. A few times I stood with the ball between us and she walked forward and moved it with her knee. The first time she looked like she was going to put her foot on top of it - I held my breath for that one. I will do this one more time and then it will be time to mount up.

We went on a six rider trail ride the Wednesday which was awesome but short.