First night of loading practice...

Tonite was trailer loading practice - our first time. We lunged small circles for a little while - nothing drastic because of the heat. I got him closer and closer to the trailer, led him up to it while I sat on the edge...just gave him time to soak up what was going on. Once he relaxed, which only took a few minutes, I got up in the trailer and he just watched me.



He would come up and watch, and I would get out of the trailer and walk him away. Brian suggested I not give him too much time to think about it, so the second he sniffed, I walked. We would walk back in the round pen, walk over the bridge and poles, then come back. He followed me right in! I had to stop him with both front feet...I wanted the two fronts then I wanted to back him out.



I did the two front feet a few times then decided I was going to just go for it to see what happened. This is what happened! :-)



He came right in, sniffed around, then I turned him around to walk out forward. He would probably have been fine backing out, but I didn't want to take a chance of him getting scared then hitting his head and having a bad memory of the trailer.



Once he stepped up on it and there was a popping noise. Tripp was not so sure about getting on the trailer after that! He would put both front feet in, but then instantly back off. I lunged small circles again nice and slow, and he seemed quite relaxed - he just was not going on. It was almost like those little eyebrows went up and he was thinking "You can't make me." I really was not getting anywhere with him, so Brian came up beside him, which he was fine with, then Brian patted him lightly on the rump, and he walked in. He was nervous this time, but did very well! I had Brian go grab an alfalfa cube real quick - this was the first time I gave him a treat before the lesson was over, and I don't feel one bit guilty about it. He munched his treat while I rubbed all over him, then I BACKED him off and we called it a night.

I was so excited about all of this ..... I forgot to work with his back feet! Ha ha! Oh well, there is always tomorrow, right?

Okay, this last shot was the in between stage when the trailer was not looking as good as it did in the beginning. Once when he was in with both front feet he spotted his reflection on the ceiling! Oh my gosh, it was the funniest darn thing! He looked up and actually went cross eyed to try and see it! He stepped down and kept looking up! I would move so he could see my reflection and his ears would go up - he was very interested in that thing he was seeing. I had Brian bring me his camera so I could get a shot of the look on his face. This isn't as good as the first look when he was a few inches from the ceiling, but it is still pretty darn good!



Ahhhh yes, cameras. It seems that mine is pootering out! Apparently they are only good for approx 15,000 pictures before they start having problems. Of course not all of them do, but on the average they do. Guess I fell into that average. I really don't like shopping for new stuff like that. I am on a 3rd photo printer because I either use the heck out of them and they wear out, or they are just junk. I don't know! I will say I have run almost 15,000 pix thru my camera...so it might be a little tired. Guess I will start looking around.

I mentioned I had trimmed Tripp's front hooves - I got a good look at them this morning and I did a pretty nice job! I was hoping the angles he came here with were making him look pigeon toed. Nope. He really is pigeon toed a little bit. His hooves are cute tho. :-)

That is all I have for now.

Night night....
Karen and Tripp