Well Hello There

Carmen continues to improve in her mood and attitude every day. We've finished the Sulcrate on Saturday. I think she's missing the 'extra' meals that I used to give it to her but is handling it well.

I threw this tree into the field- Carmen came right up to it and is
now giving me the 'eye'. 

I have been super impressed by how easy she's been to give her the tube of Omeprazole. I put on her halter now and she starts to chew getting ready. I put it next to her mouth and after an initial moving away she opens her mouth and lets me squirt it all in and then she gulps it down. I don't even have to hold her anymore. I was worried that it would make her resent me but the opposite seems to be happening. On Saturday I came into the field with some flakes of hay and she came galloping and nickering to me. Clearly the hay helped but I've done that before and have not gotten that reaction.

It took until this weekend for me to finally start to feel like myself. Friday was bitterly cold and every time I went out I bundled up. Saturday was cold and rainy so I just puttered around the house and didn't worry about working Carmen. Sunday though was a beautiful fall day.

love my morning walks in my woods

I decided that I should do something with Carmen. The temptation is to ride but Ed was away for the weekend and it didn't seem that riding for the first time since last Sunday when I was all alone would be the smart thing to do. So I decided to do some ground work with her. 

And you guys- she was a totally different horse. There was no sign of this nervous, flinching wreck from two weeks ago.  

trying out her new rope halter.
C'mon Carmen put your ears forward and open your eyes
Carmen: no

I picked up a rope halter from the local store and decided to use that. I think I tied it correctly (I had my phone out checking online while I tied it up):

does this look right?
Also, Carmen put your ears up

Carmen was definitely more alert in the far corner but she settled really quickly. It was clear that not only was she tuned in but she was pretty relaxed about the whole thing. I could get her to canter and then have her stand and relax. 

Me: Carmen, I'm taking your photo. Could you put your ears up?
Carmen: why? I'm relaxed. what more do you want?
Me: sigh

One of the things I've learned about ground work this year is that it's not so much what you ask for - it's about the handler being really clear with what she wants and the horse trying to find the answer. I like playing with my body language and seeing how she responds. We walked around the ring with her following. I decided to see if I could push her away and draw her back by just rotating my shoulders. It worked like a dream. As I walked and turned my shoulders towards her she yielded into the centre and when I turned my shoulder back and headed toward the rail she followed. At no time did I have to tug on the lead.  We ended there. 

Irish has had his nose a bit out of joint. He's used to being the one that needs the extra care but I've been giving that to Carmen. He's getting quite grumpy. Today I took him out to clean off his back legs and then put on the protective spray/powder. It was clear that he felt much better after. Poor baby. 

I am feeling so much more optimistic than I was earlier this month. I have a lesson booked for Tuesday (fingers crossed for good weather). I plan to keep it positive and light but it will be good to have eyes on the ground. 

I don't expect her to lose all her sass. After all she wouldn't be Carmen then. But I like the path we seem to be on.