Candi, a volunteer rider, recently worked with Barb in the Groundwork Clinic in November. Here is what she had to say about her.
“Barb is not a Barbie Doll! Barb might be small, but she is smart and strong. She may be a ranch horse in the making with her quick moves. Barb and I worked together for the first time in the groundwork session of the November Joel Conner clinic. It would be an understatement to say we learned something from each other. We learned A LOT!
Beyond a doubt, Barb has an opinion. Out of all the horses I have done groundwork with she is by far the most difficult. Challenge accepted. Going back to the very basics of unified circles with a soft feel yielding the hindquarters made all the difference in the world. Over the course of three days, we worked on backing up with a soft feel. By the end of the clinic, I did not even need to put my hand on the base of the halter to back her up. When I asked her she could feel me and backed up on her own. We also worked on what I like to call the “front quarters dance” up and down the arena. This is a great exercise for changing eyes. We were not the best dance partners to begin with. I needed to move her feet out of my space to create rhythm. By the end of the clinic, we were not stepping on each other’s toes.
Barb is a spitfire and willing to work. She will be a good partner for someone who can ensure her success through continued horsemanship training. She needs a solid partner who will set boundaries yet reward her for her accomplishments. Giddy up and gather the cows little girl!”
