Groomed and rode Magic in the arena. We did the 20 meter circle at the walk and trot and then trotted the complete arena in both directions. This is the stage that I want to make improvements in my riding. I have not been able to keep a horse at this level for some time. Glory, once I got her broke to ride, got so big that it is uncomfortable for me to ride. Tut was so small that my weight was constricting to anything but a walk. Little More was the best but then he got lame. Justin’s horse Bruiser showed a lot of promise but had some ingrained habits that I did not have the skills to get him past. Roxie got lame. Newt is just now getting to where I can ride him in the arena. If Magic stays sound and willing, he has the ability to do the things I want to do. We will learn together.
We rode around the Oak pasture. I like to take different routes and always have variety in what we do. I think it keeps them interested and creates confidence. So we were in a new place and a bird flushed that caused Magic to spook for the first time. His spook was to shutter just a little. He never even broke his stride. He has excellent composure and lots of confidence. When Newt spooked, he was two strides into a bolt when I hit the ground back at the spook site. I never got to see what spooked him. Magic is happy to walk fast when we are on the trail. That is what I want.
We have not worked on loading for a couple of days and Magic did not step into the trailer today. I did pick up the lunge whip and tap him. Previously, in Little Rock, he had balked at the whip but today he stepped forward and did not pay a lot of attention to the whip. I consider that progress so we quit. I made no improvement in Little Rock and was concerned that he did not respond to the whip by stepping forward but by balking. My normal loading process is to ask for a step or movement toward the trailer on command or cluck then tap, tap with the whip until I get the movement I want. They don’t have to get into the trailer right then, they just have to step forward. If I can get them to do that, they will end up in the trailer sooner or later. But in Little Rock, if you picked up the whip, Magic stood his ground or moved away. I would not be surprised if he created that behavior in response to the bad situation Magic found himself in. So I was happy to see his indifferent, possibly positive, reaction to the whip today.