May 18, 2008: Day 2

I worked with Mav this morning in the Round Pen (RP). It took about an hour but I was finally able to get him circling with me. I then continued to circle him and got the circle wider and wider until he was following me around this circle. Every time he quit following, I'd make the circle tiny again and then spiral back out. He followed me all the way from one end to the other without circling.

I then rubbed all over him (both sides) and swung my rope over his back. Both him AND Fallon are REALLY one sided. I just need to spend more time on the right side, less on the left for a while. Mav wasn't to pleased about the rope swinging around him and tried to bolt a few times but nothing major. He'd hit the end of his lead and turn around (no dragging of me or fighting with me). After about 1 minute he settled down and relaxed.

This afternoon I worked with both Mav and Fallon. I picked up both front feet and tapped them and rubbed their legs down. Besides Mav rubbing his nose on me (I figured he'd try to bite but never did), they both did great. I did the slap the ground with Mav and after about 10 seconds he practically fell asleep. I was worried he'd come along at a slower rate but they seemed to have switched personalities all of a sudden. I can walk up to both just fine. Mav is in the RP and Fallon is in my arena but their both fairly easy to catch. Give them a few more days and I will take their halters (or at least their lead ropes) off.

See the pictures below...

and here is some of me picking their feet up: