Observation, Connection and Confidence with Two-Month-Old Dyana

In this session with Dyana (and Freja) I work with Dyana for her first time in one of the paddocks. She has been turned out in other pastures at the farm but never in this paddock.

As always, I begin with observation taking careful note of her "magnets" in the space. In this case the gate is a big magnet for her and Freja, so I later use that to my advantage by placing myself at the gate as a wise place to connect with her. Then we move into connection on the line utilizing the Harmony Horsemanship Calm Connection exercises Square and S-Pattern. After establishing some connection we move to confidence by moving farther away from Freja into a corner of the paddock where they did not venture at all on their own. We then up the confidence factor by introducing small stretches of trotting in hand for the first time.

Per usual, Dyana handles everything very well. Since I always strive to end each session with some sort of connection exercise, I actually choose to take off her halter to let her reconnect with Freja and then see if I am able to re-establish our connection in an area of the paddock away from the gate. Success!