Moving on

I learned a few new things at last weekend's Savvy clinic with Nita Jo Rush. What has been working particularly for me is starting the sideways game by holding the halter and being in front of the horse and asking for a sideways movement with the stick.
I got rained out on Wednesday, but played with Reo a little (1-4) before it rained. He is softer at the games than I remember. Last night I did not ride, but practiced some of what I have been learning. Can the boys eat grass and let me play the friendly game? Nimbus, yes, no problem. Cirrus, not so easy. Had to start slow and be on valium to get him to relax and graze. Interesting! New insight into are they tolerating or are they okay and how okay they are. We did the other games out in the grass, with grazing time as the reward, except for the circle. I wanted everything to be slow and relaxing. Then we had individual friendly-grooming time and I checked them all over for ticks and rubbed between their legs. The boys just go goofy for that one. Did the same with Reo and finally got him relaxed enough to not try and clamp his tail and enjoy being rubbed under there. He started having some interesting facial expressions, so I think I can win him over that this is a special treat. They all have ticks in the oddest places, so it is a good sharing experience to have a grooming session like that.
Tonight I brought the boys up to the trailers and play pen and started with Nimbus. I added a 6 x 8 foot tarp to the games. They each did it with a few suggestions and each one tackled it in a different manner. Nim was doing well. Nickering when I would ask to get on. I decided to take him out of the play pen and we went out in the grass by the trailers. I got on and he walked over to Cirrus and then back and forth a few times. I just went along for the ride. He started grazing and I just allowed him to do that and relax with me on him in the wide open. I did that for about 15 minutes and then got off and traded to Cirrus.
Cirrus was especially good and calm and willing tonight. The moment I took him into the play pen, Bella started racing around, jumping, throwing sand, being crazy. For what ever reason, she really digs Cirrus. I decided not to take Cirrus out of the pen yet. He was doing so good and then Nim started running outside the fence and I decided it was time to abandon riding and see what was up. After I took the saddle off and started walking them back, a hen turkey burst up from the grass right underneath us. I was very thankful I had decided not to ride Cirrus out there. She was right where we would have gone.