Today was definately better.. Less stressful, that's for sure!

Gertie was a lot better today too.

I went ahead and decided to let her out and run and be silly if she wanted to. Did some work while she did that..then hooked her up to the lunge.

We went in both directions at a walk. We really need to work on WHOA a lot more. Think we'll take a break from lunge the next few days and work on stopping and my voice commands when asking. I know I probably shouldn't but I asked her to trot on the lunge. She started prancing, would take off and so forth and finally settled down. Brought her to a walk, went both directions then asked for the trot again. She did the same as the first time but not as much. I dont want to trot her so much since she's still young...don't think this will hurt her unless I did it all the time, which I won't. She did do a lot better eventually and I was very proud of her. She is just so smart!!

Work is going better too. My boss is making more of an effort to work with us rather than thinking we're running in circles. I kept one girl..and MAN got into it bad with one of the other girls that had been in the office.. but whatever. I'm not letting it bother me.. I seriously think she is nuts. It was crazy, lol.. oh well!

Oh, lol and I know I'm going back and forth..

I know I've got a good bond going with Gertie and she is learning to trust and respect me. She does test her boundries...all the time When I feed her grain, she's almost always.. RIGHT there. I elbow her out of my way and space when I walk into her paddock..she is still "there" but not as close. I still don't like it. SOOO... when I was putting her grain into her feeder.. I elbowed her again but harder out of my space and "went after her" like an alpha mare would. I kicked out my back leg when she got too close to my grain. Until I "let" her go in and eat..

I don't know what anyone else thinks of this.. but it has helped keep horses from being pushy with me. Miracle was VERY pushy when it came to food...although he had reason (he almost starved to death as a foal because he was weak when born w/issues)... but it is no excuse for that behavior IMHO. He is a full grown 16.3h tbxappy gelding... and I did the same with him as I did with Gertie today. I dont know why I didnt do it sooner.. but it reeeally helped with Miracle. He isn't pushy with feed so much anymore (though I dont feed him now, his owner does) and has really learned to respect me and my space.

So hopefully it will have the same affect with Gertie. I figure since she's young, she'll learn quicker and so long as I'm consistant (which I always am) she'll get a head-start in manners and respect and be better when full-grown.