Simple Stuff

I think I have been really focused on increasing Pistol's level lately instead of working on what he already knew, so I decided to take today to add some polish. He has finally calmed down enough that I can redo things without making him throw a fit. I've been working on lots of things with him to keep his clever mind busy, but I decided to work on the pedestal, squeezing over a jump, driving from zones 2-3, and stick to me at a walk and trot. He did a fabulous job, I think he is really starting to understand that there is a reason behind everything I do, I'm not just waving my carrot stick to annoy him. He has been great with the pedestal and squeezing over a jump, so that was just asking him to do it a little better each time. However, for some reason stick to me at a trot really drives him nuts. So we worked on it, and the first time he trotted with his ears forward for a couple steps, I stopped and rewarded him. Surprise, Surprise, he started licking and chewing! Hopefully next time will be even easier because of it. He also did a fabulous job on driving from zone 2-3, I think I may try riding him soon. He was green broke when I got him, so he has had a rider on his back, and she even took him trail riding. The trainer was also the barn owner, and she was nice enough to tell me everything she did with him so I know what he knows. I would love to start riding him soon, but because he is a Left Brain Extrovert, I want to be 100% sure he is okay with me up there. As a LBE, the tendency is to buck or rear, and he has already shown he can do both when he wants to. So I'm going to take it slow, and make sure that I have a good relationship on the ground before I climb on his back. I won't look good in traction. :) When I went to bring him in from his pasture, he was already in, so I scratched him a bit and gave him his grain, which made him super happy. As soon as I was leaving, it started to rain, so I had to go close up his trailer. While I was doing that, he finished his grain, and came over to the gate to whinny to me and beg for a scratch. He has this little pose he does like "If you could just get right -there- I would be sooooooooo happy" so I went in and spent some time scratching him in his shed. He is so adorable when I scratch him, he holds his head really high, stretches his neck out, and sticks his lips out and wiggles them. And then, when I got a really good spot on his shoulder, he dropped his head down onto my shoulder and stood that way for a bit. Even though my horse is suuuuuuuuuuper challenging, I wouldn't trade him for ANYTHING.