Apricot Brandi (a.k.a Brandi)

[ariana]

So, I've been working with Brandi cause she just isn't up to my par and I want to do something about it ! I've been working for the last few weeks with her and she's come a long way I think. Here's a listt

1)Before, she wouldn't stand to let me catch her...she'd run away and it took a few minutes to catch her. Now, I can walk right up to her and bridle her !

2) She didn't lead properly (didn't whoa, back, or turn all that great). Now, she leads like a dream (eye to ear ratio), backs when I step back, and turns with just certain hand placements !

3) She would move a lot when i groomed her and did her feet. Now she stands (most times) and picks up her feet when i just place my hand there and give the command to "pick up". Plus, i can do this with just having the lead over her neck and she don't have to be tied on.

4) She stands for me to get on! She also steers WAY better and she is working on the whoa part She's also getting better and being away from her friends and listening to me

5) Last but not least, she is really starting to TRUST me ! She'll let me pet her on the head without moving away and she loves to have me just hug her and rub herr She'll follow me ANYWHERE like a little puppy and she puts her head down a lot lately.

So, that's it Right now I'm just working on "whoa" command, herd bound issue, and steering

[Krista]

awesome work arianna!
must feel wonderful to see the changes you and brandi are making together!

[ariana]

it really is ! I mean, i actually really kinda hated her cause she was so misbehaved, but now I LOVE her! and its cause our bond is stronger and instead of changing the horse cause of the problems, I'm changing the problems to a well behaved horse !

[applesandoats]

good for you!....I love her name...Apricot Brandi.....too yummy.

[ariana]

ahaha yeahh she has the coloring of the drink so I thought it fitt

[ariana]

So, I went up to see Brandi todayy and it turned out she had a scrape on her foot It's not bad, I can still ride her, but still enough to get me worried. I am PROUD that she let me pick it up without fidgeting at all! So, I tacked her up after some stuff was put on it and set out. She fought a lot today(I figured she would cause I hadn't seen her in three days ) while we were away, but i kept her going and she gave up bit by bit. I worked on whoa and she's getting there. When I say it she perks her ears and slows, but she has yet to learn it means STOP. On the plus side though, she turns on a dime OH she's also starting to back up under saddle. Still fights, but since I taught her it on the ground, she does it easier. She does back when I ask on command and stands like a little princess. When we were on our little trail there was a little hill of pushed snow and she was scared of it! So, i just kept trying to get her to walk by it and after 4-5 tries , she did ! Now, she just stares at it I tried on her new halter (brown leather) and I think it fits pretty well That's really it for today.

[ariana]

Had another visit with Brandi. She stood pretty good for me to tack her up (only moved once at the saddle) but then she stood for it. She's really good at taking the bit So, I went to get on and she was faced away from the others so she decided she wanted to go back when i tried to mount. I turned her in a many a circles She learned after the second time that she should stand still Then I went to ride her out of the driveway and she steered away,,so i took her as close as i could to the ponies and trotted her around til she was steering properly and I felt we could try again. I walked her away and toward the driveway. She put up about 3 fusses in all but after I kept repeating trotting her, she stopped fussing and would just stop/slow down while she walked down the driveway. BIG accomplishment I think for one day She tried to keep turning back but after she realized she wasn't going back she just walked along. We worked on her whoa and she finally did it with just "whoa" after one hour of repeatly doing it. So, I figured for her reward we should stop All in all, I think it was a pretty good day. I find it tough though now cause she isn't learning as fast as she was with ground work, but hopefully she IS learning ;p

Something Funny: She rather walk on the pavement than the dirt on the side of the road

[bevvv]

I love reading this, good to hear Brandi's coming along good! I'll have to visit her some time, see the changes from the fussy little mare I remember!

[ariana]

ahaha, she might still be fussyy....I think she has trust issues ;p But hopefully she will be good And she'll be glad to see other people! She loves attention

[ariana]

Went to see her tonightt ! She was bad to catch, but hopefully it's only because she hasn't seen me in a few days and the weather was stormy fort the past few days too. i took her out and she did her back command, she turned away and towards me, and whoa'd greatt! Also, she stood PERECT for me to groom her, pick her feet out, and she loved having me brush her mane out! I put her back in the pen and i just walked around , going to her and grabbing her halter, petting her then walking away so she realizes that not everytime i come I'm going to make her work:) That's it for tonight

[ariana]

Went to see Brandi yesterdayy and she was bad to catch (hopefully it's cause the weather and not seeing me), but she did all her commands and she lunged great. I just went up to see her and say hello

[ariana]

Brandi has a new friend ! Gunner (Ashley's new horse) arrived while I was lunging Brandi so when the others got fed I put Brandi back to meet the new comer They are having their tiffs, but I think they will work it out So, that's about it. OH, she let me pick up all her feet while she was eating! ANd i just wiped her off and had time with her That's it...another update hopefully tomorrow!

[ariana]

Went for a trail ride with Ashley,Kevin, and BJ It was really fun and Brandi listened pretty good. Then, I untacked her and did some lunging (lots of trotting to build muscle) and stopping then backing up. She is stopping well and is backing up great! That was really it All in all, a good day

[Ashley.W]

Awesome ride gunner the fatty was sweating like a pig though!

[ariana]

ohhh Gunner...not the fittest horse in the world now is he