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I'm seriously on a roll. But I'm thinking there'll be a break again now - I have to do another assignment due next week

First off, I tried a slightly new thing with the shading this time. I actually like how it came out - what do you guys think? Its all done with the dodge and burn tools, which is what I normally do, but I haven't blended any of the shading together - I've just left scribbles of colour all over.

And Twitch has been plaiting up Lakewood horses again

More training of Mossy, this time with Becca. I'm trying to get this girl some AHA points so she's hopefully a finest by the time her breeding arrives

This is a form of driving game. I know about Parelli, but this may crop up in other practices too

The 'driving line' on a horse is at the base of the neck and goes from the withers, down the line of the neck to the top of the breast bone or just between the forelimbs. Motion and pressue in front of this line encourage movement backwards while pressure behind the line encourage forward movement. This is the same for any horse, regardless of if they do natural methods.

Becca's literally just holding the stick high, keeping the 'pressure' on where Mossy can see it. Angle is off slightly, so the stick is just behind her withers, sending her forwards. The stick is immobile if the horse responds and only moves if the horse does not listen to a finger being pointed for more speed. You always start with pointing a finger and work up.

Becca doesn't do as much natural as Chess, so Mossy's one of the better horses to learn with. Here, they're cantering/running around the outdoor arena so Becca can learn the basics.

Mossy's ref: [link]

Chess found she barely had to do more than provide base instructions. Becca may not do natural training, but she was naturally self aware and conveyed certainty in her movements that Mossy picked up and and responded to readily.

The blonde shifted on the fence, finding a more comfortable seat. "Now when you bring her in, do what Twitch was doing in Wickerwood - switch your hands and redirect her straight away."

Becca nodded to show she understood, keeping her posture tall as Mossy cantered about her in an even circle. The brunette ducked towards her quarters, switching her hands with only a little fumble and pointed out, holding the stick to block her from entering the centre.

Mossy snorted and obediently spun away again, picking up a canter and settling into the new bend.

"Good!" Chess called, just as Austin approached, dragging a shredded stable rug. "What the...?"

He shot her an exasperated look as Becca started on the yoyo game - backing Mossy to the end of the line with the smallest motions possible, before bringing her back in the same way.

"Karma," Austin said. Chess snickered.

The little filly was nearly two. She'd grayed out fast in her first year, but slowed abruptly when she was around 18 months. She was now an even rose grey with a mostly white mane, her sabino marks still visible on her coat. She was also full of energy, high maintenance, very intelligent and too adorable for her own good.

They had thought dressage would be good for her to get into when she was backed. All the movements and the intensity of the work would give her something to focus on, but it was becoming clear that she was no dressage horse. She wanted to be active, not precise.

"How many rugs is that, now?" Chess asked, eyes finding the large tear running down one shoulder, the stuffing exploding outwards.

"This month?" Austin asked. "Two. At least she doesn't need one during the day now the weather's better - and she's going out naked on most days, too."

"Maybe we could rough her off, when she's three?" Chess wondered aloud. "She's not going to get big boned - both her parents are too fine - but she's not exactly fragile. She could handle it better than all this."

Austin didn't speak as he climbed up onto the fence next to her. "Maybe. But she's only two. Some of this destructive stuff will be her teething. See how she goes and we'll work it out."

"Ooh, you're having a rare 'smart moment', " Chess teased.

"Rare?" Austin demanded. "I frequently have smart moments."

Chess scoffed.

"Oh, look, there's Twitch. You know I can just yell out your full name - I'm sure she could hear me-"

"You wouldn't dare," Chess scowled. "Fine. Your IQ is far superior to the norm; you're regularly coming up with genius plans. Now shut up."

Austin beamed and raised a finger, marking off a 1 on an invisible tally chart in front of him. Chess elbowed him and sent him sailing to the ground.

"Can you two act like adults for two minutes?" Becca called out.

She'd turned to look at them, and next to her, Mossy was laying on the ground. Her chestnut coat was still clean, though, so she didn't appear to have rolled.

"And help me," Becca added, thumbing over her shoulder at the Arabian mare. "What do I do?"

Chess laughed. "Same thing. Point her forwards and if she doesn't listen, you put pressure behind. Once she's up, keep at it - see if you can drive her from her shoulder."

Becca frowned, quickly trying to understand the instruction. Her expression cleared as it registered and she obediently turned back to the mare.

Mossy's ears flicked and she licked her lips once as Becca raised the line. Groaning, she got to her feed, shaking herself out. Loose hair wafted to the rubber and sand surface as Becca stood at her shoulder and pointed her on again, lifting the stick over her back.

Mossy snorted and curled her neck in, springing into a trot. Becca kept her on the outside track and they did a circuit, Becca jogging lightly.

"Canter!" Austin called out, smirking. "You haven't even broken a sweat yet!"

"Shut it!" Becca yelled back, but she lifted the line again and, when Mossy's trot just lengthened, circled the end of the stick in the air.

She skipped a beat and stepped into canter - Becca now outright running to keep level with her shoulder.

No one said anything as they breezed down the long side and Twitch came to the fence with an armful of empty haynets.

"When you're ready," Chess called as they sailed past. "Take the pressure off, use your body and bring her back to you."

Becca - beginning to tire - did so straight away. She let the stick slide down a little and curled her shoulders in. It was all Mossy needed to bend to the inside, drop straight to walk and press her face into Becca's stomach.

Twitch smiled fondly as Becca laughed. She backed her up with the line, insisting on her space. And Austin vaulted over the school's rail.

"Right. I have to go find another rug, or Karma's going to freeze tonight."

"And I wanted to ask if anyone's already moved Oma's haynet?" Twitch added. "Its not in his stall, or on the yard."

Becca frowned. "He had it outside this morning - are you sure its not hanging somewhere?"

Twitch nodded. "Sure. I'll check again, though."

"No need," Chess interrupted, pointing over towards the Garage. "I've found the culprit."

Misfit - their grey and white pygmy goat - was trotting across the green, her tiny horn stubs caught in the knots of Oma's red haynet. Hershey loped after her, leftover stalks of meadow hay in his little jaws.

"Oh," Twitch remarked, deadpan.

"Have fun," Chess called to Becca, who was looping up Mossy's rope to prepare to mount up. "We've got to do a goat roundup."

Becca beamed. "Good luck."

Dropping the collected nets, Chess and Twitch headed for the barn, and the spare long ropes, looking forward to another goat chase.

Time - about 6-7 hours? Started this morning, and I slept in
Idea of poses from my new book - 101 horsemanship exercises. I love it.
Art, characters and story copyright to ~Tattered-Dreams (me)
Do not take, copy, edit, redistribute or manipulate

Description

I'm seriously on a roll. But I'm thinking there'll be a break again now - I have to do another assignment due next week

First off, I tried a slightly new thing with the shading this time. I actually like how it came out - what do you guys think? Its all done with the dodge and burn tools, which is what I normally do, but I haven't blended any of the shading together - I've just left scribbles of colour all over.

And Twitch has been plaiting up Lakewood horses again

More training of Mossy, this time with Becca. I'm trying to get this girl some AHA points so she's hopefully a finest by the time her breeding arrives

This is a form of driving game. I know about Parelli, but this may crop up in other practices too

The 'driving line' on a horse is at the base of the neck and goes from the withers, down the line of the neck to the top of the breast bone or just between the forelimbs. Motion and pressue in front of this line encourage movement backwards while pressure behind the line encourage forward movement. This is the same for any horse, regardless of if they do natural methods.

Becca's literally just holding the stick high, keeping the 'pressure' on where Mossy can see it. Angle is off slightly, so the stick is just behind her withers, sending her forwards. The stick is immobile if the horse responds and only moves if the horse does not listen to a finger being pointed for more speed. You always start with pointing a finger and work up.

Becca doesn't do as much natural as Chess, so Mossy's one of the better horses to learn with. Here, they're cantering/running around the outdoor arena so Becca can learn the basics.

Mossy's ref: [link]

Chess found she barely had to do more than provide base instructions. Becca may not do natural training, but she was naturally self aware and conveyed certainty in her movements that Mossy picked up and and responded to readily.

The blonde shifted on the fence, finding a more comfortable seat. "Now when you bring her in, do what Twitch was doing in Wickerwood - switch your hands and redirect her straight away."

Becca nodded to show she understood, keeping her posture tall as Mossy cantered about her in an even circle. The brunette ducked towards her quarters, switching her hands with only a little fumble and pointed out, holding the stick to block her from entering the centre.

Mossy snorted and obediently spun away again, picking up a canter and settling into the new bend.

"Good!" Chess called, just as Austin approached, dragging a shredded stable rug. "What the...?"

He shot her an exasperated look as Becca started on the yoyo game - backing Mossy to the end of the line with the smallest motions possible, before bringing her back in the same way.

"Karma," Austin said. Chess snickered.

The little filly was nearly two. She'd grayed out fast in her first year, but slowed abruptly when she was around 18 months. She was now an even rose grey with a mostly white mane, her sabino marks still visible on her coat. She was also full of energy, high maintenance, very intelligent and too adorable for her own good.

They had thought dressage would be good for her to get into when she was backed. All the movements and the intensity of the work would give her something to focus on, but it was becoming clear that she was no dressage horse. She wanted to be active, not precise.

"How many rugs is that, now?" Chess asked, eyes finding the large tear running down one shoulder, the stuffing exploding outwards.

"This month?" Austin asked. "Two. At least she doesn't need one during the day now the weather's better - and she's going out naked on most days, too."

"Maybe we could rough her off, when she's three?" Chess wondered aloud. "She's not going to get big boned - both her parents are too fine - but she's not exactly fragile. She could handle it better than all this."

Austin didn't speak as he climbed up onto the fence next to her. "Maybe. But she's only two. Some of this destructive stuff will be her teething. See how she goes and we'll work it out."

"Ooh, you're having a rare 'smart moment', " Chess teased.

"Rare?" Austin demanded. "I frequently have smart moments."

Chess scoffed.

"Oh, look, there's Twitch. You know I can just yell out your full name - I'm sure she could hear me-"

"You wouldn't dare," Chess scowled. "Fine. Your IQ is far superior to the norm; you're regularly coming up with genius plans. Now shut up."

Austin beamed and raised a finger, marking off a 1 on an invisible tally chart in front of him. Chess elbowed him and sent him sailing to the ground.

"Can you two act like adults for two minutes?" Becca called out.

She'd turned to look at them, and next to her, Mossy was laying on the ground. Her chestnut coat was still clean, though, so she didn't appear to have rolled.

"And help me," Becca added, thumbing over her shoulder at the Arabian mare. "What do I do?"

Chess laughed. "Same thing. Point her forwards and if she doesn't listen, you put pressure behind. Once she's up, keep at it - see if you can drive her from her shoulder."

Becca frowned, quickly trying to understand the instruction. Her expression cleared as it registered and she obediently turned back to the mare.

Mossy's ears flicked and she licked her lips once as Becca raised the line. Groaning, she got to her feed, shaking herself out. Loose hair wafted to the rubber and sand surface as Becca stood at her shoulder and pointed her on again, lifting the stick over her back.

Mossy snorted and curled her neck in, springing into a trot. Becca kept her on the outside track and they did a circuit, Becca jogging lightly.

"Canter!" Austin called out, smirking. "You haven't even broken a sweat yet!"

"Shut it!" Becca yelled back, but she lifted the line again and, when Mossy's trot just lengthened, circled the end of the stick in the air.

She skipped a beat and stepped into canter - Becca now outright running to keep level with her shoulder.

No one said anything as they breezed down the long side and Twitch came to the fence with an armful of empty haynets.

"When you're ready," Chess called as they sailed past. "Take the pressure off, use your body and bring her back to you."

Becca - beginning to tire - did so straight away. She let the stick slide down a little and curled her shoulders in. It was all Mossy needed to bend to the inside, drop straight to walk and press her face into Becca's stomach.

Twitch smiled fondly as Becca laughed. She backed her up with the line, insisting on her space. And Austin vaulted over the school's rail.

"Right. I have to go find another rug, or Karma's going to freeze tonight."

"And I wanted to ask if anyone's already moved Oma's haynet?" Twitch added. "Its not in his stall, or on the yard."

Becca frowned. "He had it outside this morning - are you sure its not hanging somewhere?"

Twitch nodded. "Sure. I'll check again, though."

"No need," Chess interrupted, pointing over towards the Garage. "I've found the culprit."

Misfit - their grey and white pygmy goat - was trotting across the green, her tiny horn stubs caught in the knots of Oma's red haynet. Hershey loped after her, leftover stalks of meadow hay in his little jaws.

"Oh," Twitch remarked, deadpan.

"Have fun," Chess called to Becca, who was looping up Mossy's rope to prepare to mount up. "We've got to do a goat roundup."

Becca beamed. "Good luck."

Dropping the collected nets, Chess and Twitch headed for the barn, and the spare long ropes, looking forward to another goat chase.

Time - about 6-7 hours? Started this morning, and I slept in
Idea of poses from my new book - 101 horsemanship exercises. I love it.
Art, characters and story copyright to ~Tattered-Dreams (me)
Do not take, copy, edit, redistribute or manipulate