Leading - check!

Back in the yards this morning we got started on basic leading so that Piwaka will be prepared for the journey to our place tomorrow.

Mike started out by going over a few of the things from yesterday - getting used to him patting her neck and having his hands around her face, a rope over her neck and then finally getting a leadrope attached to the halter....

I had to leave for about half an hour and when I returned he pretty much had her lunging! There was a bit of hesitation in the first place...

One of the biggest problems yesterday was that she wouldn't face anyone and only wanted to turn her back legs towards people. But in the end he managed to stroke her face and she had a sniff....

He began getting her used to the pressure of the halter and had her on a circle around him....

She gradually became more open to approaching Mike...

And was trotting around him nicely....

By the end of the session she was quite tired and happy to stand in the middle of the yard with all the ropes attached while we had a chat about her progress and the plan for tomorrow....

She's learned an awful lot in the past 3 days and she seems to retain the new information so long as she is eased back into the process each time. If we were to just rush into the yards and slap a halter and leadrope on her it would all turn to custard but so far I think she has done really well. Brother was a bit shittier today - maybe from the lack of food and maybe from another youngster up in his face - but still behaved better than I expected him to. This evening, when Marty fed them, he was protective of his feed unlike yesterday. He'll be home tomorrow as well and I'm sure he'll be pleased about that.

I am hugely grateful to Mike for taking on this massive task at such short notice! We wouldn't have been able to do it without him. He is helping us with Tigger's training as well and I think that after this experience he may not want to have anything to do with us and our horses! I hope that is not the case!

Anyway, time to go. It's been another big day but I am officially on leave from work now. Yay! Once Piwaka is back here tomorrow morning and she and Brother are settled into their new paddock we are off to Wellington and then Melbourne! How exciting! Can't wait.

Ciao,

K :)