Jacquelien experiences…

This morning I went with Alexandra to do groundwork with the ponies. We walked to the meadow where  they were together with the horses. Immediately upon approaching, I learn something new; don’t approach a horse from the front and don’t look straight into its eyes. Navida perceived this as a threat and immediately she turns away from me and walks away. Floris thought it was OK and with him I put the halter on first. Navida does Alexandra and so she showed me how to approach her too.

Then I walked with both ponies towards the house. But not in a straight line, no just a round trough the meadow. Where Floris follows, Navida always wants to walk in front of me. Let’s see what happens when I walk around the meadow and have happens when I walk around the meadow and have a good pace. Navida now stayed a bit tidier behind me and with this next to Floris. Great, an instant realisation that everything seems to have a reason when dealing with ponies. When Floris pushed me a bit later, Alexandra taught me that you shouldn’t ignore this kind of behaviour. Just reacting to it an showing that it is not OK is enough.

Arriving at a bar, I learn how to tie a pony there. Now as I type; do I even remember? Because what a lot of information I had this morning. Then we brush the ponies and it is time to lunge.

We do this in Alexandra’s courtyard, as the Airbnb, near the roundpen has rented out. here we have a quiet place where we can get started. After a brief introduction, I get to work with Navida. It takes some getting used to of course, as what are the commands, how do I position myself opposite the pony and how do I tackle this this conveniently. An outsider would see right away that I am a novice. So I move quite a bit, turning is not yet smooth and Navida slows down where I hesitate. But hey, I’m working with ponies! So I enjoy, fumble, but learn tremendously.

Next up with Floris. What a different pony this is. He mirrors me immediately and where he expects me to take charge, I don’t take it enough. We fumble a bit and I notice that my head is full. Which click was speeding up again or when should I tap the tip on the ground? We choose that I watch for a while and Alexandra does the work with Floris. Enough for today!

Time for a cup of coffee to have a nice chat and than on home, the house at BoksheideBuiten that we have been living in for a week.