So my next step with Maggie has been Setting up, which is when you move a horse’s hooves so they are in a box. This shows off a horse in their best position and is apparently when, during a horsemanship routine, the judge comes over to look at the horse? Not perfectly clear on what the judge is doing the rest of the time yet, but I’m sure he/she knows, so I won’t worry about it.
This is actually something I learned way back when I started, but my first few (failed) attempts I was trying to make Maggie move her feet with only the little movements that Morgan and Deb can make, and of course Maggie would just ignore me. Once I was reminded that, as a beginner I should over exaggerate my signals I began getting a response, and am slowly working my way down to smaller signals. Though it it worth noting that Morgan told me to avoid ever trying to move the back right leg (on my left) unless the other three were perfect because it’s the hardest to move. I had noticed that by trying on several occasions. I think I will take her advice. 🙂
In other news, Becca rode Homerun today. She is thinking of buying him and wanted to try him out. Also, Nora has gone MIA to New Jersey. Not sure exactly what’s going on there, but I expect to be doing MWF mornings on my own for a while. Blah.
