LaunchesKayaks

She was easier to catch today, but was a bit nervous leaving the field because we had to walk through the bulk of the herd. The other horses can be nosy as hell and Sandy doesn't like it when they bother us. They all left us alone though and she settled once we were in the barn. She got treats for being so good for me in the pasture and for being brave.

I haven't been doing many exercises with her because training her to let me put her halter on in pasture has been exercise enough for the both of us. She cantered around the whole goddamn field yesterday instead of just behaving for me.

Most days she trots away for a bit but eventually relents. Today she didn't run around too much, but that's probably because she worked herself so hard yesterday for no reason. I wasn't even going fast or anything when making my approaches. I'd wait for her to stop then very slowly make my way towards her, not even looking at her or anything. Just ambling in her direction and occasionally getting out my phone and pretending to be focused on it. I was real casual so maybe she'd be tempted to just come over on her own to get the treats she knows I carry. I'd get a few paces into the trek towards her and she'd start running again. She looked kinda bummed when I gave up. I was too hot to stay out there any longer lol.

Best part of this whole chase game she plays, is that she'll greet me with cute little noises from afar and act like she's gonna come over but then goes in a completely different direction. Such a shithead lol.

I got sleepy just looking at her lol. I've never seen her so relaxed in crossties before.

She knows that when I hold out my arm like that, I have treats. She just likes to be a shithead when I go to get her from the pasture. She'll see me, get excited, make a noise of greeting, then walk halfway over before turning around and trotting in the opposite direction.

Then she acts totally uninterested in me and my treats until she realizes that I'm not gonna chase her through the pasture and stands for me while I put her lead on lol.

It's getting easier to get a lead on her. I'm hoping she'll just eventually learn to come when I call for her.

Also, I am aware the crossties do not have the safety halter clips. I plan on inquiring about some next time I see the farm owners.

Sandy also does not know how to run through the woods. I watched her try it and she ran into a big ol branch and got a nasty cut on her neck. It didn't need stitches and didn't even seem to bother her, thankfully. I cleaned it and put some medicine on it after brushing time.

She also let me pick up one of her back feet and looked surprised as hell when I didn't even pick it. It looked gorgeous and didn't need cleaned.

She's also almost 1000 lbs now! I want to get 200-300 more on her before winter because she'll lose some when the cold comes in.

I'm really starting to think that she'll be able to be ridden come spring. Her energy is great, she's using all of her muscles daily, and is really starting to look good (despite the dirt)

Sandy's bestie is Princess. Princess escorts Sandy everywhere and protects her from bullies. I was told that a gelding tried blocking Sandy from going into the barn last night and Princess shoved the gelding into a corner and kept him there until Sandy was in her stall. She escorted me and Sandy to the pasture gate this evening when I went to visit and waited nearby for Sandy to come back.

Princess is a real one.

She's been outside all day just loving it. I brought her in briefly to give her brushes and talk to her and then she went right back out without issue. She led me to the spot she's been hanging out at and started munching on some hay that's there.

Three of my friends are actually moving their horses here soon as well! The one who trailered Sandy saw the place and was like, "Dang we should move ours" and they are! So I'll have people friends here as well!

She was so good getting on the trailer. She was so well behaved getting into her new stall, too, and she's already eating her hay.

She's going to be let out to pasture tomorrow and I'm so excited to see how she does. I'll be going out again in the afternoon, so I will definitely have more pics.

10/10 best girl.

Busy busy busy today prepping. Made time to play with the old girl. Went in the round pen and as soon as I was in the middle, she started running and tossing her head and having a great time.

She decided to roll in the dirt like 30 seconds after I took this pic.

She spent a good while outside today while I organized my grooming equipment lol

She tried getting me to play for 45 minutes and refused to let me do any grooming or spray her with fly spray.

Next week I can start doing more intense stuff, which will be awesome.