8/30/04
Training Thistle on Thanksgiving

Thistle's had a saddle on and lunged with it with no problem. Today
I added the bridle and he worried about the bit for a while. After a little lunging,
I had him held and stood up in the stirrup over him. Once I started doing that,
the bit was completely forgotten. He shied once when I jumped out of the stirrup
instead of setting down lightly, but he continued to stand for more.
He's going to be interesting, but I'm wondering how tall he'll be. He's around 15 hh now.
 
He'd gone back to lifting his head for the halter, so I did the rope halter first, then I could hold his head down for the regular one.
 
He's not worried about leaving the pasture. A few months ago when I did this, he threw a little fit.
Both my horses and my cars are short and stout.
 
No problem with saddling. He's very good about standing.
Bridling wasn't too bad. It's the first time, and I thought I'd really have a fight.
 
That good about standing thing. Not sure where I ran off to....
Pretty relaxed walking on the line.
 
Not real happy about the bit and trotting at the same time. 
(notice the guys watching from the pasture)
Thinking about it.
 
Settling in to the bit and thinking about the lunging now.
As soon as he relaxed both directions I let him stop.
 
Then a bit of bouncing to prepare him for surprises, and to tire me out....
My legs won't work for mounting from the off side, but I can jump and move the saddle to get him used to stuff.
 
Then the standing in the stirrup. I did this a number of times, and he only moved once. He was quite tense, but much more tolerant than I thought he'd be.
Now I need to get him used to lunging in side reins, and ground driving off the bit. At least that much before I'm actually sitting in the saddle next year.