Flexibility

Tex has been great these last few days. I have been riding on my own, so it has been hard to get photos. We have really been working on the basics and learning flexibility (both physical and mental!)

 I was planning on having a nice quiet ride on Wednesday so I started some ground work with Tex and he was working really well UNTIL I had the audacity to twirl the lead rope. Well, Tex was not going to stay anywhere in the area, no way, no how! He peeled sideways and his whole body went rigid. I thought "hmmm, this is a problem that we really need to work on..." So once he settled, I did it again and got the same reaction. Knowing that I am planning on dragging logs and swinging ropes off of this horse this reaction really is an issue. This is where my flexibility comes in, I gave up on the idea of a ride, and went and got a longer rope, and I just let him carry that rope all over his body, and once he learned that it really wasn't a horse eating monster (about an hour of patient work later) he was walking and trotting with it banging his sides, wrapping around his legs, and bouncing all over. So for now, he is rope broke.

Today we have new poles and jumps in the round pen and arena. I love these because they give the horse something to focus on instead of just endless circles. They give him a purpose to turn and a reason to trot. After his initial "pole = horse eating monster almost as bad as the rope monster" he started to enjoy going over the poles and figuring out where to put his feet. Today, I did have a great ride, using the poles for direction and transitions. This was his opportunity at physical flexibility. He had to be able to get around the turns and come straight to the next pole without fussing with his mouth or resisting the bend. He really is working so hard! Tex's mental flexibility came with some TOP SECRET freestyle work that we did. He is a rock star!!

I also want to say a HUGE thanks to everyone who has talked to me about Tex. I had no idea going into this adventure where it would lead, but the horse community here in Wichita has been amazing!! I have met so many people who find out what we are doing and say that they are following our page or blog. You all have no idea what it means to me that you have come to support this awesome horse. Please feel free to message, call or email and come meet Texas Citizen, he loves the attention!