A New Journey: Day Three: Yo-Yo, Squeeze and Driving Game

Day 3:

Session 5:

Another 6 am morning. Both Mocha and Caramel busted through the gate leading to the pasture to go see Pockets, a horse that is getting boarded at my trainer's. Thankfully, they didn't get any further and my trainer saw them, and got them back to their stalls.

After cleaning stalls again, I got Mocha into the round pen and got her focus on me. She's protective of her right side, so I spent time going back and forth between sides before I haltered her.

I spent some more time on friendly game and leading before moving into driving game. Working on her right side, I put feel on the halter to the right and tapped her right shoulder until she moved away from it at a walk. A few times she took off and I had to reel her in.

I also worked on backing her up, the first 'Yo' part of of Yo'Yo game. She responded well after I got to Phase Four.

My trainer stepped in to show me some things to do and his timing is WAY better than me. Mocha was timid and jumpy with him, but as soon as I took her back, she settled right down.

Using the rail, I drove her shoulder away from me, forcing her to squeeze between the rail and myself. We advanced the Squeeze game with a chair.

Her 'Yo', disengagement of her hindquarters and driving got a lot better by the end of the session. I spent quite a bit of time on her right side, going in, rubbing, retreating, and repeating. I got back to the top of her tail, which she loved for me to itch.

I felt down all of her legs and got her to the point where I could walk into both sides with motion and she stood there. I rubbed, rubbed, rubbed, backed out and went right into the other side.

Overall, today is the best she's been.

Tomorrow is the day for Caramel and a quick session for Mocha.

Licking and chewing as she processes my friendly game with her.