The Mustang Diaries: Kai-Ju's First Days in an Arena

New location, new brain, new horse. As soon as you take a young colt to an unfamiliar area, they have this tendency to become a completely different horse.

Our ground workout started with simple exercises. I guided him through yielding his hindquarters, backing up in a straight line, and maintaining a consistent distance from me as we moved around the perimeter. Each task was met with a mix of enthusiasm and hesitation. It took him considerably longer in this new area to access the thinking side of his brain, as he was reacting to every new sight and sound in the arena. Tennis and baseball were both taking place on the other side of the facility, so I had to compete with shouting, running people, and moving cars for his attention. These would occasionally trigger a moment of panic, causing him to sidestep away from the perceived threat. Patience, I reminded myself, was key. This wasn't about perfection; it was about building trust and establishing a foundation of clear communication.

After our groundwork session achieved a grade of B-, I decided it was time to try a ride, and I tacked him up. Mounting was felt like a moment of quiet bravery for both of us. As I placed my foot in the stirrup and swung myself into the saddle, I felt him clench and brace himself, but, like a good boy he is, he remained stationary. For a few precious seconds, we stood there, a partnership forged in mutual trust and understanding, before I asked him to flex his head left and right. I could feel how stiff and contracted his muscles were, so we performed approximately 30 flexes on each side before I asked him to step out.

We walked a large circle, then another, his gait becoming smoother with each stride. He was learning, adapting, and gaining confidence with every step. I asked him for a trot and then a canter before bringing him back to a calm walk. I wanted to work on setting a gait and maintaining it in all the chaos of the new location. The session wasn't long, perhaps twenty minutes in total. I wanted to end on a positive note, leaving him feeling secure and confident.

I took him back to the trailer and loosely tied him for the first time while I untacked him. He barely moved his feet and patiently waited to be loaded up. He rode in a slant instead of a loose box for the first time, too. A day of many firsts for Mr. Kai, and he did absolutely fantastic! It must have been his turn with the brain cell today...