Cat is practicing for the Lipizzaner show!

I’m debating on taking Cat to a Palomino show this fall so I decided I’d probably better start getting her out now so there won’t be problems if I decide to take her. We had practice last night so I decided to take her with and let her stand tied to the trailer while we rode.

When we first got there the horses were drenched with sweat from the ride over. The heat and humidity was horrible and the stale air in the trailer didn’t help. I let Chase warm up Max for me so I could see how Cat would handle things. When he left the trailer Cat decided to get a little goofy (not bad but enough to annoy me) so I decided to do some LFR to get her attention.

She picked up quickly on what I was asking so I tied her back up to the trailer where she practiced her “Airs Above Ground” on the side of the trailer. I’m sure by this time quit a few of the members thought I was crazy for bringing this crazy horse with me but you know, they have to learn somewhere. She reared at the side of the trailer for probably 5-10 minutes and then slowly tired herself out and started to just stand.

After our second run I let Chase cool Max down and I grabbed Cat. I took her into the arena with the other horses and did the C pattern with her. A few times she got her butt whacked pretty hard for not paying attention but she quickly decided it was better to watch/listen to me. By this time we were doing the C pattern almost flawlessly through the arena with horses on both sides of us. I asked her to back up but then had to stop because the dang clip had come undone (I don’t like the new clips).

We went back to the trailer so I could untack Max and she stood like an angel. LOL When it was time to load I decided to ask her to load first. I was pretty certain that it wasn’t going to happen without a bit of a fight but she put up a bit more than I expected. She’d get to the opening of the trailer and then rear (she wanted to go to Sis and Max) so I’d run directly at her and then push her forward again. Then we did LFR right by Sis and Max and I putt he pressure on when she was by them and let it up when she was away from them.

One of the old members (the gentleman who helps out when needed) stayed to watch. He was surprised by how “aggressive” I was with Cat. He said he’d never seen me like that before. LOL He just sat and watched and didn’t offer up any advice (which I preferred). I think he was in awe a bit by how I was doing things. Pretty soon Cat found her resting spot. We started by loading just the front feet a few times and then the entire horse a few times before we finally loaded up for good.

When we got home she back out just as nicely as the other horses (it’s quite a drop for her). Thursday and Friday should be my last performances with the drill team however I have offered to be an alternate (horse providing) if they need me. I’m going to try to start focusing my time and training into Cat and Lucy.