We are now able to go out for drives by ourselves in the field and just walk! Learning more and more about my pony, it's interesting where he's at now. Our drive started out head up, engaged, happy and relaxed. We did some work through some cones I'd set up, then we proceeded to go walk around some round bales out in the hay field. I took a short video of him and then asked him to halt on top of a rise. This has always been his difficulty. I rubbed his but with the handle of my whip, which I've done before to tell him he's not alone and I'm still with him and he can stand still. He fussed and wiggled but eventually stood still for long enough that I could ask him forward again. Big effort... he lurched forwards and then nose to chest right away with his irregular pulling. Ah, stress. He has a way where he pulls just off one shoulder. It feels really disunited and odd. It's been happening less and less often but seems to come up when he's tired or in stress. Makes sense. We worked a bit more on bending and went back to cones to see if he'd come back into relax - which he did a bit, but not all the way. We walked back through the driveway where mom was throwing hay. She gave him some cookies on our way to the tie rail. All in all, still positive progress and more learning for me. I can now put him to at the tie rail and climb in and have him stand, relaxed until I ask him to go.
Progress comes in many forms. Even my mom commented last night how far he's come in 7 months with us. I'm just glad he's been a willing partner.
Progress comes in many forms. Even my mom commented last night how far he's come in 7 months with us. I'm just glad he's been a willing partner.
