Post by Amery on Jul 18, 2006 12:50:11 GMT -5
Amery gingerly led her tall gelding into the round pen. The lunge line, which was already attatched to his halter, hung loosely in her hand as her gentle giant lumbered willingly behind her. With expert hands, Amery opened the swinging wooden gate and gently let it swing itself open and land against the wooden fence. She eased Hershey through the gate and turned his hindquarters around by applying steady pressure to his flank. Hershey obliged and moved his powerful hips out of the way of the gate. Amery closed the latch and made her way to the center of the round pen.
Once she was situated in the center, she let some of the lunge line go and eased Hershey out on the circle with the gentle tap of a lunge whip. She waved it behind his rear until he was walking at a consistent pace around her. She then droppped the rest of the slack in the lunge line and had him moving in a large and even circle around her. Amery followed him with her body and watched for lameless or signs of soreness, as she was taught many years ago. Hershey seemed just fine, he was responsive to her cues and had his inside ear towards Amery, prepared to listen to her every command. Taking that as an invite, Amery clucked and gave the lunge whip a little wave. Hershey was familiar with the cue and he made a smooth transition into his floaty trot. He long legs moved in diagonal pairs and he was really working from his hindquarters. His toned muscles rippled from beneath his shiny coat and he showed no signs of lameness or ailments of any sort.
Amery let him circle 4 times at the trot and she then waved the lunge whip in front of him. Knowing what that meant, Hershey turned around and began trotting in the other direction. He was as smooth and crisp as he was in the other direction and he seemed to be in perfect unison with himself. He wasn't fighting the lunge line or wiggling his head around as he did in the past.
Amery then thought it was time for a short canter. She, once again, waved the whip behind him and he let out a playful buck before moving into his rocking chair canter. Amery giggled softly at her silly gelding, he was so mature one minute and the next, he was like a little greenie again. She watched as he three-beated around her, his head down and neck rounded, his hind end propelling him forward. Herhsey was a thing of beauty, he knew it, and so did Amery.
Pleased with his performance that morning, Amery confidently held the lunge whip in front of him and Hershey slowed to a controlled stop. Amery then pulled him gently into the middle of the circle, collecting the slack as he walked forward. She rubbed his broad forehead and leaned down to kiss his velvety muzzle. Hershey just stood there and let Amery cuddle, as she always did. After his reward, Amery stood at his shoulder and swung herself onto his back, hoping to walk him bareback to the barn as a cool down. Hershey didn't even flinch and Amery gave a small squeeze with her lower leg and that's all it took for him to walk gingerly towards the barn. Amery had the lunge line in her hands for control but Hershey knew where to go so that wasn't a concern.
Once they returned to the barn, Amery swung her leg over and slid down his broad back. She replaced the lunge line with a lead rope and returned the lunge whip to it's place in her tack box. She tied him outside his stall and gave him a quick brush down before scooting him into his stall. Amery threw in a flake of hay and brought the hose over to refill his bucket. Once pleased with everything, she gave him a final pat on the neck before exiting out the main door of the barn. Perhaps she would ride him later...
Once she was situated in the center, she let some of the lunge line go and eased Hershey out on the circle with the gentle tap of a lunge whip. She waved it behind his rear until he was walking at a consistent pace around her. She then droppped the rest of the slack in the lunge line and had him moving in a large and even circle around her. Amery followed him with her body and watched for lameless or signs of soreness, as she was taught many years ago. Hershey seemed just fine, he was responsive to her cues and had his inside ear towards Amery, prepared to listen to her every command. Taking that as an invite, Amery clucked and gave the lunge whip a little wave. Hershey was familiar with the cue and he made a smooth transition into his floaty trot. He long legs moved in diagonal pairs and he was really working from his hindquarters. His toned muscles rippled from beneath his shiny coat and he showed no signs of lameness or ailments of any sort.
Amery let him circle 4 times at the trot and she then waved the lunge whip in front of him. Knowing what that meant, Hershey turned around and began trotting in the other direction. He was as smooth and crisp as he was in the other direction and he seemed to be in perfect unison with himself. He wasn't fighting the lunge line or wiggling his head around as he did in the past.
Amery then thought it was time for a short canter. She, once again, waved the whip behind him and he let out a playful buck before moving into his rocking chair canter. Amery giggled softly at her silly gelding, he was so mature one minute and the next, he was like a little greenie again. She watched as he three-beated around her, his head down and neck rounded, his hind end propelling him forward. Herhsey was a thing of beauty, he knew it, and so did Amery.
Pleased with his performance that morning, Amery confidently held the lunge whip in front of him and Hershey slowed to a controlled stop. Amery then pulled him gently into the middle of the circle, collecting the slack as he walked forward. She rubbed his broad forehead and leaned down to kiss his velvety muzzle. Hershey just stood there and let Amery cuddle, as she always did. After his reward, Amery stood at his shoulder and swung herself onto his back, hoping to walk him bareback to the barn as a cool down. Hershey didn't even flinch and Amery gave a small squeeze with her lower leg and that's all it took for him to walk gingerly towards the barn. Amery had the lunge line in her hands for control but Hershey knew where to go so that wasn't a concern.
Once they returned to the barn, Amery swung her leg over and slid down his broad back. She replaced the lunge line with a lead rope and returned the lunge whip to it's place in her tack box. She tied him outside his stall and gave him a quick brush down before scooting him into his stall. Amery threw in a flake of hay and brought the hose over to refill his bucket. Once pleased with everything, she gave him a final pat on the neck before exiting out the main door of the barn. Perhaps she would ride him later...