circling game and exploring

I've been working with Pistol on the circling game a bit, because he's been having some wierd issues with it lately. I think its because I've been working with him on trailer loading. Its created some problems in the circling game now, mostly bolting on the send and not paying attention/tipping the nose outward. So I've been playing with him in my front yard, because that has a different feel than his pen. Its much more cushiony, and has a better "give" to it, so its more similar to what an arena would be, instead of the rock hard ground in his pen. Today I really got in depth on the circle, because he was getting so "bad" about it. I had to constantly do a pattern interrupt, and keep his focus. It took FOREVER, and quite a few bucks/rears, but finally at the end, he was doing a BEAUTIFUL circle with his nose tipped in, 1 ear on me, rope dragging on the ground and a nice rounded gait. I was so proud of him, I know it was rough, but he finally figured it out, and started licking and chewing. We practiced the rock slide pattern that was discussed on the savvy club forum, because at some point I'm planning on doing some cutting/reining/roping type stuff with Pistol. He really gets it, and seems to really love it, and constantly wants to do it FAST! :D Silly boy. He's so cute when he figures a pattern out.








Once we worked on the rock slide pattern and he was doing it correctly and licking and chewing, I started walking around with him and driving from zone 3/4. We walked all around the edge of the front lawn, which has all sorts of interesting decorative plants for Pistol to investigate. He's never seen much of anything that wouldnt be around a normal barn, so anywhere I take him, there's something new and exciting for him to look at. Today, that new and exciting thing was the yellow line in the middle of the road. Now mind you, I dont want him walking in the road, I have NO plans of riding him on the road, but I also didnt want to discourage his curiousity. So... we examined the yellow line. I had to do some approach and retreat with him because he got a little scared of the road(its a different material that he's never seen before). Just like when I first got him, he had never walked on asphalt before. He got out there, and sniffed the line, wiggled his lips on it, and stuck his hoof on it like "so THERE!" He was so adorable doing it. And of course once we had investigated it, he was done and ready for his grain.