Day 20

Went out to the horses this evening. It was a lovely evening. Poor J.B is still on box rest and is really getting fed up (as is Michele). We headed out to the field to get Humphries and Rags came with us. Humphries and Cheyanna were in the upper field having a drink when we went out. He started to come towards us, but Cori was looking and as he doesn't trust us to look after him yet, he headed out of Cori's way down to the lower field. Michele, Rags and I tramped down to the lower field to get Humphries. Once more he came towards us, but Sky, Cori and Megan headed down to the lower field and Humphries and Cheyanna headed off in the opposite direction. Michele went to bravely get rid of the other horses, but Humphries was still slowly walking away. I didn't see the point in going after him as long as Cori was hanging around to intimidate him, so I went to help Michele drive the horses back up to the upper field. As soon as we started to drive the horses up, Rags gave us a hand and started to chase and bark at them (although she left Humphries and Cheyanna alone). Cori didn't like getting a taste of his own medicine, but they ran back up to the upper field. Cheyanna and Humphries came back to us once the other horses went away. I put the head collar on Humphries and asked Michele to lead him up the avenue. Cheyanna kept pace on the other side of the field as we went back to the yard. Humphries didn't want to walk past Cori, even though the fence separated us and he wasn't even that near to the fence. Michele tried to shoo Cori away and immediately Rags ran into the field and started to bark at Cori. He turned in tiny circles, kicking out at Rags with both his hind and fore legs. It was amazing to watch, because he was so supple, but also really frightening because I was sure Rags would get injured. Avoiding harm, she followed us into the yard. Michele led Humphries into the stable. I groomed him and he was really good, the best yet. I bought sponges for him last Wednesday to clean his eyes, nose and dock and I forgot to bring them over again today! After I had groomed him I put on the bride and lunge rope, grabbed the lunge whip and headed into the arena.

I try my hand at lunging...

... in trot...
... and then a walk around the arena

Michele helped me with the gates and was on hand with advice. I was really nervous lunging him. I had never lunged before, but I had memories of Cori bucking and taking off on the lunge and I was afraid Humphries would do the same. He was very good though, and I soon relaxed and enjoyed doing it. He didn't move very well, but he was watching me the whole time and was relaxed and communicating. Towards the end of the session I imagined driving him forward and he went a lot better, but Michele said it was more like long reining than lunging but that it worked. Then we walked him around the arena (driving him from behind) and took him back into the stable to put on the head collar. I didn't want to lead him back straight from the field because he might get into the habit of going straight back after work. He was perfect in the stable after lunging and he didn't try to get out the door once, he stood nice and quietly while I took off the bridle and put on the head collar. Then we led him down to the lower field, and I managed to lead him back. Cheyanna came over to say hi and he got some pony nuts for being so good. When we got back to the yard, Sky and Cori headed down to the lower field and drove them on, but it was quite gentle. Then Michele got J.B settled for the night and we went home.