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Updated photos and video of Fenella

Recently, Savana went out to the pasture with me to take some (much overdue) pictures of Fenella.  She is growing "like a weed", and progressing well on her training.  She is rather mouthy, and will sometimes nip, but I never let her get away with this, as I detest nippiness.

She is so sweet and easy to train.  I am beginning to want to keep her for myself, as Fannie is getting older.  Maybe there is some way to grow more grass...



First I ponied her from Fannie...


She hadn't been ponied since she was only two months old, so she had some re-learning to do.  By the time I thought it was time to stop, though, she was following pretty well.


Fannie was as good as gold, though she has been ridden very little lately.



Then it was time to do some groundwork with Fenella, while Fannie took a break tied up to the fence nearby.



First I asked her to yield her hindquarters.

Notice how loose the lead rope is; I'm not pressuring her head at all.


Now it was time to back up.

I was very pleased with her back-up.  I did not have to pressure her dramatically to get her to move, but while she was very responsive and respectful, she was not frightened.



Now I ask her to flex her neck and drop her nose.  I only just introduced this to her a few days before these pictures were taken, and she has caught on very quickly.  I use the voice command:  "Turn your head", while I'm asking her to flex, and she seems to respond to it

 Notice how loose the lead rope is again.


Now flex the other side...  Very good!


I also picked up all her feet, but we only have video of this...



Now for some fun:  riding bareback and bridle-less!  I have been riding Fannie some like this recently, and she is doing very well.  The only issue is stopping her once she goes into a canter...  I'm still working on "putting some brakes on her"!




When we were done, it was time to let the horses out into the yard (as the grass in the pasture is very thin and I don't want it too badly overgrazed).  Time to settle down and have some lunch!

Here is the video we took while we were out there.

(Please note:  the music is from Georges Bizet's opera, "Carmen".  I do not like it much, but was in a hurry and so used it anyway.)

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