Bad Blogger

I have been a bad blogger, I know.

Being back at work full time--a good thing, of course--has curtailed the energy I have for sitting in front of the computer when I get home every night.

I am getting to the barn and working Bar most nights after work, though, and he's continuing to improve, especially if I work him consecutive nights.

The other day I threw him for a loop and used a hackamore on him, after working him in the round pen and under saddle for an hour, first. I was curious to see how he would react to not having the pressure of the bit in his mouth, one less thing to fight against.

He didn't quite know what to make of it, actually. I picked up the reins and clucked him forward and his ears flipped back as if to ask, "Forward against what?" I got him moving and we practiced giving to the bridle, which we'd just done with the bit with no problem, and stopping. He actually did remarkably well, once he got used to it and figured out he could fiddle with the leather ties on either side of the hackamore (since there was no bit to chew on).

More later, we're headed out for the day.