10/19/04
Training and Playing

I don't want to push Niles, so we do a little training
and then a little playing. He's just a big plush toy, although
he doesn't really understand why I'm hanging all over him.
 First we did the trailer loading. We'll do this every day for about a week. After that, I'll trust that they understand what I'm asking later on when they get to go on trips.
 
 Besides loading on by themselves, I expect them to come off with a pull of the tail. It took a while to get the correct response. Both guys seemed to think that pulling back was the correct response at first.
 Then a break for hugging. In a couple of years when he has to have a rider, it won't be any big deal to have something wrapped around his middle and a person up.
 
 Next we worked on more forward and trotting out.
 Sometimes he wasn't sure what I was asking and he got a little playful.
(Bart was using the night vision here)
 
 Niles did get it, although I had to watch out for trees. He's a quick study. 
Adirondack seemed to figure it out and trotted right away, but he tested the bounds and picked up a canter and left. No biggy, he stopped almost immediately and grazed. We might start introducing the bit to him pretty quickly, since he'll be under saddle next year.
 He'd give a lovely forward walk. Sure hope it translates to under saddle.