Ground Work With Flicka

Wanted to give a update on Flicka and I...

(this is a pic from earlier this month)

Its was a nice sunny in the 60's kinda day here today... it was a great day for my friend Sarah from Life With the Goodwife to come over and work with Flicka while showing me what I should be doin to get her respect and let her know I am the boss... not her. Heres a beautiful post Sarah wrote, I hope read it... Moving On. I did not take any pictures from today... shocking I know, lol.  

Sarah came over, we chatted for a bit then went to the pasture to get Miss. Flicka for some ground work.  Sarah knew right what to do to get Flicka to listen to her, follow her nicely, back up, turn around, move over and not to nip... I think in the very beginning Flicka might have tried to act like she was gonna nip.  Sarah took care of that real fast and it did not take long for Flicka to respect Sarah, I was walkin beside them the whole time, watching, learning.  Then Sarah told me to do it... I must say I was nervous and a tiny bit scared but knew it would be ok, since my friend was there helping me.  She told me when to get after Flicka for doin something bad... yank twice on her lead rope, make her back up alittle, stop, then rub her neck and tell her good girl.  After a few times Flicka was respecting me and I was feeling more confident.  By the end Flicka was relaxed and licking her lips while I walked her and I was relaxed too.  Sarah also showed me how to clean Flicka hooves . I love that Sarah came over and worked with us... I knew that I could do this I just needed a friend to come show me in person what to do. 

* After Sarah left I ate some lunch then went out into the pasture, put the halter and lead ropa on Flicka and worked with her with confidence... it felt great!  I'm very proud of myself.   Now I know not everyday is gonna go perfect but I'll work through it.  

** Sarah is gonna come back in a few weeks to work with me some more.

*** Linkin up with Tilly's Nest: Down Home Blog Hop

Morning Bonding Time With Flicka...

First I'd like to share this post from my other blog:

I Married My Best Friend 19 Years Ago Today

Yesterday with Flicka I started this...

~ Spent a good 30 minutes with Miss. Flicka. Every morning she comes in from the pasture to munch on fresh hay and drink nice clean warm water by the goat barn in the pen. So yesterday morning I put her halter and lead rope on her, tied her to a post so she could eat/drink while I brushed and talked to her. She tried to nip me once, I pulled on her rope and told her NO in my loud, stern momma voice. When she tried to put her head in my space I gently pushed it away and told her no. When she tried to move away from me I told her no... she was learning the word no yesterday, lol. When she listened I rubbed her forehead and told her good girl. I brushed her for about 30 minutes... then took her halter off, stood there for a few more minutes, rubbed her neck and brushed a few more times.... then left her standing there munching on hay. We had a good 30 minutes of bonding time. That made made happy.

Today with Flicka I repeated the whole process and took pictures to share...  I started brushing her on her right side, then worked my way to her left side and finished with her tail.  Miss. Flicka was a very good girl this morning... didnt try to bite me at all... but then again I didnt try to lead her anywheres, just brushed her.  She got lots of praise and neck rubbing from me. When I was done I left her still munching on hay and a big fat smile on my face.  I felt more confident this morning and I know as the days go on I will. The time I spent with her this morning made my heart happy.  As I'm typing I can see shes back in the pasture... I'm sure shes gonna go roll in the mud but thats ok, I'll just brush her again in the morning.  When she has her own shelter later this year maybe I can go out in the evenings and brush her too.  

Good News my friend Sarah over at Life With the Goodwife is coming tomorrow morning to help me and teach me horse stuff. Sarah is so sweet, I love when we get to visit face to face.    

...Horse Tail...

This morning was my very 1st time touching and brushing one.  Kinda weird, lol  I stood to the side of her and brushed it... The girl had all kinds of junk up in her tail... leaves, twigs, mud... well I think that was mud, we're gonna say it was mud ;)

 Look how pretty her tail is now

 Gettin a nice drink of fresh water...

Thirsty girl after all that brushing

 We had a visitor 

I think she wants to be brushed next

Bratty Flicka...

 Since Miss. Flicka has so much freedom in the pasture now the past few weeks shes started to act alittle bratty, she wont let me lead her and  she really wont let me brush her... shes tryin to be my boss and we all know thats not how it works.  I'm suppose to be the boss... So we are workin on this.  I've been gettin advice from other horse friends and watching youtube videos to learn how to work with Flicka.  I hope one day soon I can get one of my horse friend to come over and work with us... I really need hands on, someone who really knows what they are doin to work with me, show me, teach me the right way to build a respectful, loving relationship with Flicka.  Shes tried to nip me a few times and mostly when I try to lead her... I've put this on hold til I learn more or feel more confident cause you see she really scared me one day and know she know I'm scared.  I try with all my heart to not be scared when she acts bratty but its really hard, I try to act brave but she now knows that my heart is pounding in my chest.

I did learn from a youtube video that other day that when I walk into the pasture, just walk alittle in, call to Flicka, watch her, she knows I'm there....... then stand, wait and let her come to me.  When she does I then reward her with praise. I also let her smell my hand and give her a rub.  Then I am to leave her standing there in the pasture.  They say to do this for awhile, it builds up trust.  So thats what I did this morning and it took my stubborn horse atleast 30-45 minutes to come to me... I was freezing my toes off.  But I was not gonna give in and let her win "The Show Down", I didnt care if it took hours, I was not leaving that pasture til she walked over to me. I know I have so much to learn and will... its just gonna take time and patience.

This is how far away she was from me... 

She stood there forever either being stubborn or really enjoyin the warmth from the morning sun.

Shes such a beautiful girl

One of these days shes gonna be one of my best friends she just doesnt know it yet 

I love this horse...

 There is something about the outside of a horse that is good for the inside of a man.  ~Winston Churchill

A horse doesn't care how much you know, until he knows how much you care 

 ~Pat Parelli

She knows when you're happy
She knows when you're comfortable
She knows when you're confident
And she always knows when you have carrots.
~Author Unknown

*** Now aint that the truth... 

Miss Flicka ALWAYS knows when I have carrots in my pocket

The daughter wife who won't lift a finger in the clean house all day is the same child wife who cycles runs madly off in the pouring rain to spend all morning mucking out a stable.  ~Samantha Armstrong

***More pics from our photo shoot later this week

Linking to... 
Tilly's Nest: Down Home Blog Hop # 19

Pasture Time...

Tulip, Star, Cocoa, Boots and Flick enjoy the neighbors pasture...

 Can we go? Can we go?

... and theyre out of the gate, munch time.

Tulip (Due in March), Boots (my wether) & Star (Due in Feb.)

Tulip (Due in March), Boots (my wether) & Star (Due in Feb.)

 Flicka following the goats, lol

 Flicka & Cocoa ( 8 months old)

 Shes so pretty

 She ran a few times... bet shes a happy girl right now

 Love it

Happy Messy Little Barnyard