Life Among the Lipizzans

Ephiny's education proceeds apace. Yesterday she had a more casual session than usual. Grooming, check. Feet, check--she's so good now about picking them up and putting them down. Cavesson, check. Not saddle; we were headed for some groundwork, because she's been throwing her shoulder into people who want to lead her.

So of course she didn't do that this time. She was quiet, focused, and attentive. Her right side has been an issue; she does tend to push into my hand on that side, but the wild defensive kicking is gone. (It's not structural or pain-related--S worked on her and said it's psychological. No known reason in this life, but...) We did the gentle rocking and the stepping over and the "move your butt, honey" exercises, and we got sleepy eyes and long, soft neck. Finished off with a request to bend just in the atlas on each side. Left was easy. Right, less so, but the fierce resistance she used to show was gone. Eventually she relaxed and stretched and flexed.

She liked it. She wanted more. We finished with Tia practically in our faces, demanding in boldface for a turn.

Oy, war mares. Oy, alphatudinal young Lipizzan war mares.

First she had to cope with the cavesson being fitted. Headflip! Grab leadrope! Chew on leadrope! Then there was discussion of where I belonged. At her shoulder, I said. Right in front of me, she said, with much imperious pawing. At your shoulder, I replied.

Then, rocking-exercise time. No, she said. Not doing that. Do not want. But it feels good, I said. Relax. See what I mean. OK, she said. But busy now! Bored now! Go backwards now! Come here, I said. Try it. It's nice. OK, she said. Busy! Back! No!

Eventually she relaxed and gave a little. The pawing eased up. I tried the less-is-more strategy. Worked even better with her than with Ephiny. (Hmm--not as tough as she looks, that girl.) I pushed her a little, and she got just a teeny tad bit overfaced, but she calmed down and gave and flexed and that was enough.

And she wanted more, too. Which is good. She was feeling cranky, pushy, wanted to be in charge, as can happen with young alphas when they first get the memo about obedience. We'll be working on that for a while, as we did with Ephiny and Camilla, and yes, all the way back to Capria, who was not always the Perfect Schoolmaster. Not hardly.