A brand-new start for myself...

[bookfreak]

I woke up feeling refreshed. I had just boughten four horses yesterday, and was going to try out two of them today. Dea and Doc. I ran down to the barn and fed them all, giving them each two flakes of hay and some supplements to Skippie. I walked back to the house.

After making myself pancakes and feeding the dogs and cat, I hurried back down to the barn in riding clothes. I wanted to work with Dea first, so I wouldn't be as tired for her.

Before I tacked and groomed her, I wanted to do join-up, so I hooked on her halter and led her to the round pen.

I set her free and let her roam awhile, just letting her get used to her surroundings before I "attacked". I suddenly look up into her eye and square my shoulders. I snap the lead rope and spook her into a canter. She goes around, and I drop the leadrope.

I continue looking her in the eyes, with my shoulders squared until she starts showing the first signs. She keeps one ear pinned on me, and I let up a little with the glares.

After a few more times around, the filly drops her head and begins to chew and lick the air. I smile and drop my gaze, hunching my shoulders in a position of zero domination.

She stops cantering and slows to a stop, looking at me curiously. I turn my back to her and walk across in front of her, being sure not to look in her eyes, but at the ground.

She steps forward and follows me confindently. I can tell she will be a great horse, if a little arrogant.

[bookfreak]

Lilly walked into the barn with Kathi following her.

[Kathi]

I walk in after Lilly and smile! "Which one is this?"

[bookfreak]

I smile at the tanish dapple and say, "This big boy is Skippie. He's my oldest, and is starting to slow down. He's a good guy, though."

As we walk down the line, i indrotuce her to the other horses. The next in line is Somer. "This is Somer's Zanza, or Somer," I say, rubbing her nose. "She's really young, but is an awesome girl. She's fairly arrogant, but that's mares for ya."

The next horse, a gorgeous bay mare named Dea, whinnies at us before we get to her stall. I laugh and say, "That's Dea, she's also really young. She's great too, though." I give her a peppermint and move on to the Chestnut.

"And this is Doc," I say, giving the gentle gelding a peppermint. "He's really calm, doesn't spook at anything. They are all great, but it's possible he's the calmest."

[Kathi]

"Hey all! I have 22 horses in all, so I cannot keep their pics all on me... Hehe!"

[bookfreak]

Lilly laughed and said, "Most definetely not!" She grinned and said, "Wow, I could never keep up with that."