Point to Point 2 pt 2 pt 2pt 2pt

Cici sure has this down. Off to the barrel and frantically search the top for a treat. I haven't seen her like this before. Once she is done with that barrel off to the next. When she didn't find a treat I had her head in my lap. Then off to the next point, search for treat and...

Seems the idea has gotten lost here. No time for Hurry up and wait. When I picked up the reins I got head toss, nose straight in the air, no yield just argument. A challenge for me to hold the bend until she yielded - not release on a brace. But she does this yield then attitude thing. She can not keep her feet still. Hmmm how interesting. I didn't make this connection until I just wrote that. So hopefully next time I can keep her feet busy until she reconsiders - make my idea her idea. Oh Boy!

Quite honestly I was not feeling very confident with this behavior. But I hang in there until I do get a nice yield, quiet eye, and she stands still and miracles of miracles she licks and chews! And I'm off and we are done for the day.

An interesting note. When I saddled her, I tossed the NP up on her back but it was a bit far back on the pad. At least this time I got it up on the pad. I tried to reposition it but with not all my strength in my left arm yet I was really struggling. Thought I just need to be up higher - ah - the mounting block. So I walked her over to the mounting block with the saddle just sitting up there. I got on the block and adjusted the saddle and pad.

So what is the big deal? She stood completely still. No slow step back. I am on the block and that is her usual sign to step back. Of course when I had the saddle cinched and had played on the ground and then went back to the mounting block to mount....she took a slow step back. Hmmm how interesting.

Hurry up and wait

Cici did her slow step back at the mounting block so I walked her forward and then disengaged. She was soft through all of this. Took a few times, then I walked her to the mounting block on her right side and she stood and I mounted. And waited. and waited. Enjoyed the feel of the saddle. And waited. And waited. Finally she licked and chewed so off we went.

I had done a bit of point to point between two barrels online before saddling her up. I seeded the barrel tops with treats. I focused on one barrel and asked her to walk to it. Couple of steps and she stopped. We waited and waited. Then she decided on walking. When I lifted the rein to direct her to the barrel got a head toss. She ultimately stopped about 1 step before the barrel.

It was like she has never done point to point. Like she had not a clue why in the world she should even consider an interest in the barrels. Totally introverted. So we waited. And waited. And waited lots more. I'm enjoying sitting up here on her. I'm patient.

She finally takes a little step toward the barrel. And we wait. and wait. She puts her nose on the barrel. Yippee. And slowly sniffs it. Finds the treat! Takes it in her mouth but does not chew! So we wait. And wait. And wait. She chews!!! Feel like we have passed a huge threashold.

I ask her to walk to the other barrel. Slow going. I'm just along for the ride, I am not asking for anything more once she starts moving. She sniffs and finds the treat and now we are cooking. Point her to the mounting block. Now we have a walk. She goes right up to it and sniffs looking for treat. She licks and chews (there was no treat, I ran out). Back to the original barrel. When I get a lick and chew I hop off. Done for the day.

She is asking What happened?!?!?!? I blew my horse's mind by....waiting!?!