Two weeks have passed

First off, it is sad when you go outside and the temperature is 21 and you think it is nice!  That was how I felt one day last week when it was only 3 degrees in the am, but with the sun shining and 21, it felt real spring like!

Christmas break begins today.  I hope to have time working with the other horses.  Little Moss needs to learn to be lead in and out of the barn.  Fog, McDuff and Nainsi will get started in ground work for the winter.  Fog is under saddle and a real sweetie.  McDuff, my Irish red head, is only two, but also very calm and gentle.  Of course, Nainsi is an old hand and just needs more finesse,

Playing with the above with Parelli Natural Horsemanship is a refresher and practice for me, so when I can begin working with Tadg, I will be comfortable with the games.  The swelling is going down a great deal.  Today I spent time petting him on the right side.  It took a few tries, but finally he started eating and let me pet him.  Up till now, I would go to the left side first and then to the right, but I felt I needed to address his right side first.  Everyday Tadg has been calmer.  He does not flinch when I go in with my wheelbarrow to clean his stall.  I can even clean around his feet.  I do not know when the stitches will be removed and how long I will have to wait after that to work with him.  However, I really feel I work with him everyday by simply being around him and touching him.  This is the Friendly Game for him at this time.  Hopefully I will be able to play the entire Friendly Game with him soon.

For those that do not speak "Parelli"  the friendly Game is a game to see where the horse is in relationship to his environment.  At this time, it is probably the most important game for him.  Can you touch your horse every place, do movements such as a lead rope swinging around and over his body freak him out are questions to be answered with the Friendly Game. Speaking of Parelli, as a teacher I felt he made a comment on a video I thought said a lot.  He said one must have confidence to become curious and one must have curiosity to learn.  I really like that.  It works for kids and horses.

Happy trails till we meet again.