How Much Trouble Can Steven Get Into In A Day?

Left on his own after I went to work, I was sure I would hear, at least a few times, about today's activities.

I had noticed at the last check before bedtime they were hanging out together....Dazzle was poking his nose thru the bars, Sage would respond with a tiny squeal or a pinning of the ears.....but she never left that side of the stall.

When I left this morning, Caly was munching happily at the top of his paddock, Sage and Dazzle were continuing to hang out side by side at the half wall with bars: Breakfast for 2? She also had hay outside, near the metal gate and fencing that separates Sage from " Stinkerbell".

Steven came by my work and I was told Sage nibbled from hay pile to hay pile, with a watchful eye towards Caly. She has learned in 36 hours what took me months: DO NOT TRUST HIM. She really is a fast learner.

Sage and Steven already had their first outing today, he doesn't do nothing well. After cleaning up her paddock, he took her out for a walk. Sitting in my office, he doled out details, very slowly, and in a tone that had me just waiting for a bad part of the outing to be revealed....He told me she balked a bit at leaving the Boyz, then fell into step with him, just as I had noticed with her in NJ on her very first outing....He adjusted his gait and she followed suit. On a few occasions she stopped to observe what was going on around her: dog and walker....She was very aware of what was going on, assessed all quickly and efficiently, and seeing no need for concern, went right back to work.

She is watchful of dogs, but she is not afraid. She watched my aged female Old English Sheepdog, Mela, amble along the edge of her paddock....facing and watching her. Mela was no threat, is hardly animated.....it could be a different stroy with Chuckie...will have to watch him.

She and Steven followed our dog walk path into the state park. The route includes wooded trails with fallen trees, narrow passages and low branches, and a stretch of the bike trail. She had no issues with any of this, still keeping a watchful eye in the direction of the dog, but paying attention to Steven, ducking behind him in narrow areas, concious of where he was, not stepping on his feet or pushing him along.

Her pace quickened a bit as they headed back to the house. Even though this was her first trip into the park, she knew where home was, and she started to pass Steven. His reaction was whoa her, and back her up a step or two, stand, and then tell her to walk on.....she remained in step, only passing him one more time, with the same correction. Good!

I was sure, at this point in his story of the outing, that there was going to be an incident.....munching on my bagel that he'd brought, I fought the urge to say 'OK! Was it successful or not?' The suspense was pretty thick! The story continued, and for me, there was a mix of disappointment hearing a tale with no excitement, and the delight that all went well.

Sage was led along the long side of Caly's paddock to the gate for hers. She was watching him, but no reaction. They went thru the gate, which swung far open...there is Steven with the 'wild' horse's lead in his left hand and a gate he can't quite reach now to his right. To make matters worse ( for Steven, Sage was fine!) the morning rain has electrified the gate, via the wet wood....and now HE has to touch it! Not wanting to transfer a jolt through his body to hers, should she come in contact with him.....he, in one movement, unclipped her, stepped to the gate, bit the bullet preparing for a shock and shut it. The zap was there, just faintly, not painfully. Whew!

She continued to graze between piles of hay. The Boyz, the domesticated duo, tend to eat meals.....she grazes.

Steven has Mondays off. His friend Dave has ridden with us on occasion back when I had 3 Boyz, mainly riding Dazzle, but once did ride Caly a brief period....with no disasters. Dave wants to meet Sage, and Steven said he was now heading over to see Dave and ask if he would like to go for a short ride....

Surprisingly, Steven admitted some hesitancy to ride Caly after the hissy fit we witnessed yesterday. We agreed that part of the drama was caused by Caly being angry that he was the only horse that didn't get to go out.....But I know, the balance was drama, he's a showoff at heart.

I assurred Steven that yesterday's display is usually behaviour that is reserved as a paddock performance. Likely not following to the saddle. Steven is a strong rider, observant and quick to react to bad behaviour, faster than I am.....He realizes, to avoid escalation of issues, that Caly's behaviour has to be caught very, very early, and correction must be swift and complete: no nonsense. He's checking with Dave.....and they may venture out before this afternoon's rain.....I think he is really looking forward to it. We both seem to have a real taste for 'on the edge' horsemanship....

I am considering a liability waiver.....or maybe a life insurance policy.

Dave was not up for a ride, Steven set to creating a new gate, using every last scrap of conduit in his garage....it's a masterpiece. He returned to the house, and after paying the appropriate attention to Sage, made a few adjustmants to the gate to prevent another episode of chosing horse or fence....

One more walk, this time I trailed along behind. Steven likes her brisk walk, and encourages by keeping his pace quick. He jogs: she jogs, right past me....paying no attention to me, he turns around, and then he really starts to run....

Sage was A-OK with that....she broke into a lope! for a few strides, before the young horse feel goods got out of control: she'd started to toss her head, twist a little and lift her butt. Steven told her "et!", spun and stopped her....and had a bit of a discussion she apparently understood, standing politely looking at him....and then they walked on....together.

I told him the only thing he should have done differently was to whoa, then stand....not the other way around. I am sure, next time he will. So I can just resume my position as observer....he's got it.