No, NOT THAT KIND!
Just a bunch of dirty, dusty people and horses on a sunny weekend in Prosser, WA, learning from the master.
Bill starts us off. That's my mare, Miss B in the foreground. Bill's gelding Grits is in the background. (Grits is for sale, y'all. Check it out, you know you want to buy him.)
After some work on moving our horses feet, Bill decides to start us on an exercise to move them from the top of the fence, getting them to approach us as if we were asking them to let us mount from their right side. This is unnatural for a horse, both because they are stronger from the left and also because most horses are afraid of anything that is higher than they are. They are a prey animal, and instinct tells them that a creature *above* them wants to eat them. This was a great exercise and we worked on it both days.
Miss B. from above and on her right side. Eventually, on day two, I got her withers below me. From the fence, with just my halter and lead rope and no other tools. It was WICKED AWESOME.
Kim, pictured below with one of Michelle's horses. She had spent the last week out at Full Circle Ranch, interning with Bill and Angie. She is a trainer and eventually wants to be a clinician.
Valerie moving Phil's feet. Note the slack in her lead rope. By day two, "Phil the Pill" was visibly softer on the rein. Note also Phil is looking directly at the camera. What a ham.
Very calmly, but with energy, Valerie asking Phil to change directions. She has control of his fore and his hind, and he is moving off of her without crowding.
Bill, framed by my pretty little girl.
Miss B. shows off how well she flexes to the right when asked nicely:
Bill leaves us with a few words of wisdom
Were those dirty enough for you?
