The clicker and Maraschino

Maraschino was a little affected by the grass (they went into a new paddock two days ago) still today so I had a big play with him while the other two were out grazing. First I gave him a big brush and cleaned out his feet - they are in desperate need for a trim.

I got the clicker out - it was quite windy and I was interested to see how quickly he picked up that click means treat. He didn't take very long so quite quickly I added the behaviour that he should turn his head away rather than mug me for treats or nibble my hands, bag etc. He didn't take very long to figure out that as soon as he turned his head away he got a click, then a treat.

Off we went up towards the geese, ducks, chickens and yappy dogs that all belong to the neighbours.
I was really pleased he stayed focussed on me and the clicker which was great. I clicked when he stepped on the pedastal and at one stage while he had two front feet on the little yappy dogs appeared through the bushes, barking. Maraschino bless him kind of hunkered down with his back end - almost like when you accidentally get cold water on their tail, but he stayed on it which was cool. Once he was calm again I clicked and gave him a treat.

Then I made it a little harder, and asked him to step on to the pedastal from further away. He did, I clicked, then on about his 6th time he got all feet on it so he got the jackpot - all the rest of the grain in my bag and we called it a day.

In between all that - we went for a walk round the house - checked out the reflections in the windows (he's not very sure about seeing himself yet) and the flapping washing. It was also an exercise in taking Maraschino out of sight from Garbo too.

You can see here over the top of Maraschino back, Garbo and Coco. In sight here but on the pedastal and by the washing line Garbo couldn't see us. Surprisingly he was quite calm about it.

What did everyone else get up to this weekend? What was the weather like where you are?

Level 3 Online Audition

Hana and Jane arrived at my place at lunch time and Garbo decided he didn't want to be caught today and ran off chasing the others. I had originally caught Maraschino first with the idea I would play with him first but Garbo followed along badgering him, so I thought - ok your turn first then - and he ran away - what games he plays with me! You could almost hear him giggling. When I walked back to the wash bay he saw we had visitors and the curiosity of course got the better of him!

I had a quick play with Maraschino after they all got a brush since we had one person for each horse... and he was very good. Backed into the yard like a pro.

Garbo loaded fine and off we went with the pedestal and ball in the back.

Arrived at Jools and set up the arena and parked the float next to it. I had a wee trial run and of course Garbo proved me wrong and did the weave perfectly, and everything else, so I said - ok lets film before we lose it.

We started on the pedastal, got all 4 feet on, then he backed off it and back on again (offered that) - actually I think he was saying "errrr you missed it - scuse me I am on the pedastal - where's my carrot??"

... then we went to the ball - he sniffed it - didn't push it - oh well.... sideways along the fence at trot both ways - one way was better than the other....

A couple of half circles from the fence, then trotting along the long side with a transition, to the cones for the weave, he did it perfectly.....

then jumped the barrel, added in some circles somewhere there.... he was a bit sore I think so didn't stay in canter for long (after slipping over the other day), change of direction x 2, then trot to me... yay.

Rest...

We also did sideways over a pole, and backwards squeeze through the barrels.

Oh I forgot - we started with Extreme Friendly - he couldn't have cared less really - added in lead backwards by the tail and the hind legs (both at once)

and then trailer loaded, and a yo yo on the 45 - phew - not quite sure how we fitted all that in to 10 minutes but it was a rap!

He's such a good horse!

Thanks to my two amazing friends Hana and Jane for helping today - your photography and videography skills were amazing - not to mention the ginger cake and just 'being there'. Thanks guys.

Hay bales

I had 1.5 hours to play with Maraschino and Garbo and pick up poos and feed the boys today. I started with Garbo and we went out to the soft grass - there isn't alot of room there so we stayed on the 12ft and I got two hay bales and put them side by side so I could work on jumping Garbo over it and then Maraschino - and sideways along it with Garbo.

It didn't take long to get Garbo jumping the bales of hay, as well as pawing them, moving them, going sideways over them lol.

I also played alot with Extreme Friendly with Garbo while he was eating grass (thanks for that tip Jane) and he was great apart from when I approached Zone 1, but after a while he was fine.

I put the camera on his hind end and took a video!

3/4 hour went by so fast!!

Maraschino's turn...

So I had 15 minutes with Maraschino - that was enough - he trotted over the hay bales without even changing the height of his gait! As you can see he wasn't too worried.

I took him up the drive a bit and he was a bit giraffe like (he has't been up there in a while - maybe 6 months).... and got him on the pedastal and also putting his weight on it too.