Gigo's progress

I'm very pleased with the progress that all the horses have made with my trainer.  Gigo has come a long way and it's good to see her trusting Maia.  She also seems to enjoy being with me more, too, and that's REAL progress!  She's never done anything bad~never kicked, never nipped. But, to actually see her relate to another human is a big step for her.  Maia can now brush her face all over and she actually enjoys being groomed.  She let out some real big sighs.  Here are some of the photos I took of Gigo and Maia, my trainer, on Tuesday, during her lesson.  She got some free time in the arena and didn't run, but calmly walked off to eat weeds! 

Progress with Gigo

Gigondas, my big red TB chestnut mare, FINALLY turned and looked at me today instead of turning her BUTT to me! I've been going in her corral with my handy stick and, starting with her butt, rubbing her with it. It took me 3 days just on her butt and back. Then, I moved up to her withers. Finally, I made it to her neck. She wouldn't look at me at all, instead prefering to suffer in silence. She never nipped at me, never kicked, but instead, withdrew. I don't know what caused this...perhaps she was in heat? But today, she looked right at me and allowed me to halter her. I was very nervous (she's SO BIG!), but I remained calm and walked her around her corral, put on my gloves, and headed out to the wash rack. She let me brush her all over, even on her neck and face, so we headed up to the round pen. She calmly stopped and waited at the gate and then we turned around to close it. She waited patiently. (...applause...) I lunged her for quite a while..she isn't real good at walk, so I need to get her to SLOW DOWN!!! But, at least she got some exercise and remembered her good manners. So, I decided to take her down to the arena (with shaking knees...) and she stopped at the gate, quietly waited while I closed it, and I lunged her there. She didn't bolt at all! I worked her a bit, released her from the lead rope, and she followed me around. Finally, she walked off to roll. Hmmm....what a difference from the defiant, difficult mare she'd been for 3 weeks! I praised, praised, praised her all during the morning and when I last checked her, after about an hour in the round pen, she was quietly waiting by the gate to go back to her corral for a treat! Phew....the farrier and vet are both coming tomorrow and I really needed to get her haltered. Now, I don't have to worry about her!