In the deep end!

So today I headed up to FOH rescue for my first few hours of volunteering. I found one of the main owners and he asked me to work with Molly Z and Rough Cutt. The round pen was being used so I was to use one of the larger oval arenas instead. I had to hunt around for a spare head collar and long line as they just have no equipment really. Anything they did buy got lost or stolen which is such a shame.

Molly Z

I knew a little about Molly Z from the weekends intro. Molly Z is a four year old filly straight off the track. She has done nothing at FOH and has just had one session with Lenora the other volunteer. Molly Z is a big girl, already 17h but sweet. Apparently she was trained by a super successful trainer and her Grandaddy is Secretariat- she didn't get his racing gift though... lots of losses! When I went into her pen; She was inquisitive without being pushy. I took my time putting the head collar on but she was fine with this. Once in the arena we spent ten minutes or so walking, changing direction, halting backing up and changing speed etc. She coped really well and it was obvious she was much happier being led with her handler on her right. I did some desensitization with a rope and the lunge whip and she was attentive but unfazed by it. I decided to do some loose schooling with her to see how she would react. She was not impressed with being sent away at first but then set off in a lovely trot away from me around the school, perfect I thought... next thing she pops her head down and gallops flat out at the gate. I honestly thought she was going to jump it but instead she ground to a halt in front of it. I asked her to keep going as I didn't want her to stop yet and again the same trot away to flat out then halt. We worked for a little while with her and I made sure she kept moving. She did not want to stay on the right rein but I just had too much space in the arena to do anything about it here so just worked on keeping her feet moving until I asked her to stop. After a short while she started to get the idea and i got some lovely calm trotting around the arena. After a good circuit I slowed her down then used some of Jennys lovely little tips and she came back into me really calmly. We walked around for a bit to cool off before calling it a day. She's a very clever girl and fun to work with but I would really love to be able to use the round pen for a bit then start some long lining with her.

Rough Cutt before loose schooling

Next was Rough Cutt. I knew nothing about him so decided to treat him as a total baby. In his stable he looked a bit worried. He was standing near the back with big eyes and didn't show any interest in me as I came in. I waited a while in his stable just watching him. He started to relax after a bit and after he had a huge sigh I went over and checked his reaction to the head collar. He was of course totally fine and I led him out to the arena without any drama. He was really very responsive apart from only wanting to be led on the right again. As both guys did this I am pretty sure that these guys nearly always get led from the right! He was much calmer loose schooling and really listened to me and responded to my body language. (I can still hear Jules in my head reminding me on where my shoulders are and what my body is saying GO or STOP!- its helped so much)! He has a lovely bouncy little trot but no movement through his entire torso he is so, so stiff. I am no expert at all but I assume that at least partly to do with his current muscle as he is muscled for galloping straight lines? He is a compact and powerful little horse and really pretty to boot. As the session went on he totally started to relax and when the session was over he followed me around the arena like a puppy and became really quite affectionate. It was like a different horse and I really felt fabulous- was a great feeling. After I popped him back in his stable he came over to the door while I was getting ready to leave. Very sweet boy. After I had finished with him I went to find some of the other helpers etc. I found out that Rough Cutt can be ridden, however he has a small issue in that he freaks out if he SEES someone on him. Apparently the previous owner (not sure if it was race yard or something else) just bunged blinkers on him and threw someone up and he coped ok then. Unfortunately this isn't helpful for a horse that needs to be rehomed as a ridden pleasure horse so this will need to be sorted out. I am thinking there might be a dummy jockey in his future...

All in all it was a great few hours. Both the horses did really well and I loved being around them. I am looking forward to seeing them both again and hopefully doing some work in the round pen, plus I will take my grooming kit so they can actually get a brush too!

Pretty boy x