You can't rush training

It's true.

When you try and rush something with horses, it never pans out well.

For example, when trying to 'train' a mini that bucks little kids off, don't throw your leg on his back.  

He will buck your 5'6" body (or in case, leg) off his 3' foot body.

(written visual of mini horse with stupid girls leg strewn across laughing stupidly, while he rears and throws several mini bucks and causes standing human leg to slip and lose control and fall)

You will fall and bruise/break your tail bone.  

Who learned a lesson there?

Moi.

Mini will not be tested with my leg on his back again.

Oh Mini....you silly furry devil.

I'll re-start and start massaging his back and introduce some Parelli games to him again and go slowly until he won't WANT to buck. 

Saturday...because we haven't gotten enough snow here in Michigan

But makes for fun photos

"See Mom, no brazces............ now gimmmme my frithsbeee"

Sunday, the BO and I went for a bareback hack.

Her on Sawyer and myself on Laz (duh).

It was fun.  

With a few heart stopping moments thrown in.

We started in arena and rode for about 20 minutes in there.  All was well, with minor spooking from Laz about the snow falling inside a large pine tree (which he thought was a rustling from a horse eating snow monster).

We ventured out in the front property and all was well. 

Perked ears and high heads but kept it cool.  

We kept this portion of the ride at a walk only because horse nerves were high.

Coming back towards the barn, a rattling car coming down the road caused the two horses to start, but they came back down.

We headed for alongside the length of the pastures trail (where I haven't taken Laz in over a year at least).  

One side is the electric fence and the other side is a line of pine trees so it makes me a little nervous.

I tried to be calm calm calm calm and did an OK job of it.

Laz was up a bit...rightfully so, because I was transmitting that to him.

I had to talk myself down and got him to calm down.

A BIG bonus I saw was he is getting more confident in himself and I. 

He wanted to be the leader and not the follower...shocked! LOVE it!

We had a couple of BIG spook/bolts from both horses (one from birds flying up from the ground, and the other was a mystery).  The mystery spook caused Laz's heart to pound SO loudly that I could feel it in between my legs. That was crazy.  

BOOM BOOM BOOM BOOM

Poor guy...

Ok, I had to be strong for my poor babe.  I forced myself to talk out loud to him, praise him for not loosing it and giving in when I could feel he wanted to RUN.  He came back to me.  HOORAH!

I breathed and sighed and he eventually let out a big sigh.

Coming back, the mini was all up in arms with his two herd mates being away and he caused a BIG ruckus for a little mini man.  I called out to him "Its ok PONEEEE" and it was more him to realize we were still here and for Laz who was upset that his mini friend was concerned.

All in all...a little scary drama but a great trail ride.

I was very very very proud of my boy. 

I see major progress (work still to be done) but major progress in Laz's confidence