Foal training is now working really well. I can put the halter on and take it off both foals without any problems. They also allow me to touch them quite well. So things are progressing!
Aster is also doing well. She runs relaxed past streets where cars and trucks are speeding by without even twitching her ears. She is also very good at lunging. Unfortunately, she is slow to respond to the voice and body language does not seem to really know her yet. It will take quite a while until I can ride her. Tomorrow I will let her walk once. I think that will do her some good.
With Dimitri it was a bit more strenuous the last days. I had to work hard to get him to stop pulling his head up every time I tried to take up the reins. It is not good for his back when he pushes it away like that and wants to rush off.
Patience was needed to get him into the lean. Several times he pulled the reins out of my hand to start running. His acceleration was so fast that my head was thrown back and my neck cracked.
The pain was mostly gone the next day, only my neck muscles hurt. Of course I got back on Dimitri, I couldn't let him get away with it like that. He was anything but thrilled about it, but he had to go through with it.
He got quite upset that day, which was reflected in very loud breathing. But this time I became more explicit with my demands and challenged him. After over 35 minutes of trotting, he finally let his head down for half a lap in the lean.
Of course I was happy about the small advance, but I wanted to know if he had the potential to become a good eventing horse. So today I looked for a few small obstacles in the cross-country that we could jump over.
The small branches were no problem for him, he just jumped over them. Only the small tree trunk at the end of the path was a monster for him. It took some convincing to get him over the log and then I had a lot of work to do to get him calmly back to the stable. Still, it was another small success.
Today the two foals could play on the meadow for the first time. Exuberantly they ran along the fence and chased each other. It was so nice to watch them with all the joy of life they sprayed. Aster just watched the two, she seemed very relaxed to me. It seems as if she has arrived well in her new home.
The foal training turned out to be more difficult than expected, despite the fact that the two of them had had a good romp. Admittedly, it is the first time that I train a foal and then two of them is perhaps a bit too much for me. But I could not give away either of them. They have already stolen my heart. Loki does all honor to his name. When I stood in front of him with the halter in my hand, he tried to pinch my knee and immediately jumped away. It took me a few tries until he let go of my knee, but he still jumped away. It took almost an hour until he voluntarily held his nose off the halter.
Aztec did not even give the halter a chance. He stood wide-legged on the fence, staring over at me, ready to take flight. So I had to rethink a bit, because to train him as far as his brother would be impossible today. So I stepped slowly towards him, the halter in my hand without wanting anything from him. I stroked his head with my free hand until his tension was less. When he finally ignored the halter, I finished the training, because that was already a small step forward.
Aster had a break today. She already had enough to do with the two bullies, I did not want to bring in still unrest. So I cleaned her extensively in the box and cuddled a little with her. She seemed to like it, because her lower lip dangled down relaxed and she let hear a low growl.
Dimitri was the last in line. I had planned to take extra time to go for a long ride with him. I had neglected him the last few days because of the foals, which I was really sorry about. So it gave out into terrain, in the goose step direction forest. The stallion had so much energy that I let him gallop up the less steep slopes and let him run in the open meadow. It had done him good, because we arrived snorting again at the stables and I felt his satisfaction.
After a bumpy start we finally made it, the doors for the new boxes are finally attached. So the first step for our enlargement is done!
The walls need to be repainted again, because in some places the plaster is crumbling off. No one wants a stable that already appears broken at the beginning, after all, you want to feel comfortable. Since it may be a bit much work to do everything alone, I'm thinking of getting an employee to help me take care of the horses and maybe do the one or other repair. So I can hopefully concentrate more on my animals.
After some considerations I came to the decision to buy a meadow, from which I can make hay for the horses, because the prices will also rise in the next few years and with its own meadow must be bought less hay, so I can save additional money. The machines needed for this are fortunately already available.
Today was a special day for me. After I was allowed to welcome Aster in her new home yesterday, I could build up some trust to her today. We took a little walk in the field and made a first bond. Even if the many strangers seemed a bit scary, she has shown herself very well.
Through the village back to the stable she had almost no problems. Only a barking dog scared her. First she didn't want to pass him, but then she decided to trot past him quickly to escape the danger. Maybe I should walk her past dogs more often, so that she doesn't associate this bad event with all dogs and is afraid of them.
I do not regret adopting Aster and hope to give her a good home where she feels comfortable. She gave birth to her first two foals in a relaxed way. I am happy about the increase and will raise them with best knowledge and conscience.