Nakita, Shanae & Gypsy

Today Nakita (7) and Shanae (6) had lessons with Gypsy.
First of all Gypsy and Me taught Nakita & Shanae how to put the rope halter on NICELY...Nakita could tip gypsy's head softley towards her by asking her head down to her level and put her arm over the top of her head with the long part of her halter then slipped the front over her nose- Gypsy stayed like that while Nakita tied the correct knot comfortably- Wahoo well done Nakita.  Shanae found this a bit harder to do but will practise a little more and try again next time.  Both girls brushed and groomed Gypsy touching her everywhere without any resistance at all.  While we groomed her we used many different lessons such as the porcupine game to move her head -then the driving game to move her back end -the yoyo game (Back & Forth) when going in and out. I put the western saddle on and she didn't move at all while I did this.
Gypsy is wonderful with children- she loves them and is very patient...We then walked quietly down to the roundpen Nakita leading Gypsy and walking just beside her with a loose leadrope- but aware that she could direct her front end simply by running her hand down the rope a little and bringing it towards her if she needed to. (Luckily we didn't need to.)
Once in the roundpen- both Nakita and Shanae did a lot of groundwork with her- just walking today- over poles and disengaging the back end learning how to drive her when they are walking in different directions- turning her in circles, backing her up and bringing her forward- doing figure 8s around the mounting block and road cone....Once they were really good at that they learnt how to hop on properly...They walked Gypsy over to the mounting block ....By Gosh she is a good horse- there was no jumping around or moving off- she stood exactly where she was meant to be- They took the mane & the rein (as their anchor) put one foot in the stirrup looked her in the eye and stood 3 times leaning over the saddle then once they felt Gypsy was completely ok they swung their leg up & over.  I had the leadrope on and they weren't allowed to use the reins- just hold them very loosely- they were learning to look where they wanted her to go, so they had specific places to look around the round pen and then just tell her to walkon - and she did- without fail she went to where they were looking- around the mounting block- over poles to the yellow canna lily as a marker through the fence- a figure 8 around the roadcone and mounting block etc etc..they had to disengage the hind quarters which they both did brilliantly and once they could show me that they were able to do that and to stop her with a relaxed seat and "whoa- I took the leadrope off and much to their delight they were able to ride without me and the leadrope attached and use the reins...They loved it and Gypsy was just a dream she did everything they wanted her to....Once we finished she was allowed some willow from the tree and then Nakita and Shanae both walked her back to the stall for me to take the saddle off - give her a wash and then take her back to have her halter taken off properly- again she lowered her head to let them take off the halter- then we made up hers and Sarg & Louka's feed and both girls gave it to them.  I felt so please with the girls they really listened to what they were being taught and just to show them how things feel to a horse we put a leadrope onto the front of their t shirts so that they could relate to the difference between what the horse is feeling when they yank on the reins and when they are able to go smoothly through the different phases and use the same methods as they were using when they were on the horse....They really got what was being taught then..be considerate & respectful  to your horse and they will be the same to you. When we had finished they took a leadrope home with them to practise with the leadrope until they can get it working smoothly through their hand...I think the yoyo game teaches this so easily- they really got it when they saw the horse relate to their open hand...Gypsy hates tense and tort ropes...so it was pretty obvious to them to release then continue with an open hand - same with backing up- they only need to walk towards her and she walks backwards in a straight line...They did SSSSOOOOOOOOO well- I was really proud of them...Hopefully once they learn this with her they will be able to transfer it to Sarg next- and he may be a little harder for them to practise on but once they know how it's meant to be done it should be easier with him too.