Days 7 and 8

No pictures today folks, my photographer is MIA :)

Day 7- I basically repeated everything leading up to today. I practiced taking the halter on and off, introduced her to backing and did some more introductory groundwork and desensitization. Also, I took her out of the arena for the first time today and swapped pens. Now she has the deluxe suite with a  covered shelter and shavings.

Day 8- Gave her the day off (mostly) except I go out there and just rub her a couple times a day. I also brought 2 of our other horses out from the pasture and set them up right across from her. I did this mostly, because she has a high level of anxiety all of the time and I am hoping that the other horses will help calm her nerves. She has a habit of pacing back and forth a lot just by herself. This is a sign that she is really worried and anxious, and I hope I can help her with this. I am not sure if she was ever penned by herself before, and obviously there is going to have to be some adjustment anyways. In fact, other than the previous owner telling me that she was un-handled, I still don't know a lot about her previous environment. I don't know if she was with other horses or locked in a cellar. She certainly thinks she is being tortured and I am doing my best to reassure her that she is not. Her eating habits are finicky at best, and she doesn't have much for stool.

On a different note, I brought in Cowboy and Bonnie. Cowboy had a good time off, but now I think we'll go back to work for a little bit (I just learned an easy way to teach them to sit, lay down and bow!) Hopefully the weather holds up for a little bit more!