It is FREEZING outside!  But that didn't stop Stella and I from having a great day!!  C'mon Spring!!

I'm not sure exactly what that means...but seriously, this snow is bumming me out!  It is February 24th and I haven't been able to work with Stelly Button since Monday...today is Thursday.  That is probably 15 minutes in "Mule Time" but an eternity for me!  I am off over the weekend and will have a blast with her then, but in the meantime...enjoy a brief montage of Stella moments over the past 3 months!!  Chears!!

I've had some medical stuff to take care of this past week, so Stelly Belly has had a nice break in her training....and I honestly think it did her a world of good!   After the fun witht he farrier, it was time for a rest!

She was such a good girl today!  She seems to really like her pink suede saddle!  I know that it is goofy, but it is super light weight and perfect for training at her age.  Her "big girl saddle"  weights about 35 pounds and we will save that one for later!  It was tough to get a picture of her because she is so curious about the camera!
She lunged with her pink saddle, she ground drove and we also worked on some halter/showmanships stuff.  She takes her bit like a champ so we worked on backing witht he bit.  She did a GREAT job today of standing at the mounting block!  I worked with her on both sides and put weight in both stirrups etc.  She had been stepping away with her rear feet last week, but she didn't do it once today!
The minute I thought to myself.."she is doing great today...what else can we do?"  I pulled her saddle off, groomed her and put her back in her pasture.    It is always that "One more thing" that seems to getcha in trouble!  OH!!  And she let me pick up all four and brush them with a grooming brush, no prob!
I can't wait for OHC in April!  Should be a blast!!

This was NOT the best day ever with Stella!  I love to post exciting (at least to me) news on Stellas latest acomplishments...so I think that it is only fair to show the good, the bad AND the ugly.
Well....today was UGLY!
To recap...the first farrier that Stella met sort of dove right in, and Stella delivered a quick kick to her head...Stella didn't connect, but she made her opinion very clear.  I was devastated.

I have spent the past month since that visit working with Stellas feet.   She will happily give me all four, I can smack them, pick them, brush them, hold them and pull on them.  She has even learned to "shake".  Naturally I decided another farrier is in order!  Stellas left front is growing out hincky and I'm afraid of what it might do to her development!

Enter Laura!  Laura is awesome and cares for my besties horses feet and is all for having barefoot kids!  I was realistic after that last episode with another farrier, so here you go.

Stella was immediately her suspicious self.   Laura was great and I had very high hopes until Stella sent a rear hoof in Lauras direction with faster than lightning speed!  Even though I warned Laura, I don't think you really get it until you are the target.  Oh, and by the way...I will always stick to the fact that if Stella wanted to deliver a serious compression fracture to your skull, she would!  Mules don't warn the way horses do....You don't get the preliminary ear pinning, attitude eyes, shuffling, tail snapping, back arching, foot stomping pre-kick.  With a mule, you just freakin' get KICKED! No fan fare, no pretense, no warning...HOOF meet FACE!

Nevertheless, Laura was a trooper.  Stella trusts me and after a bit I was actually able to pass the rasp over Stellas right front ONCE!  What a frickin' milestone.  I thought to myself...."No one is going to want to get near her with a ten foot pole!"  Then is occured to me...I have some poles!  So I got a jump standard out and rubbed it on each hoof.  Next I plan on using the rasp just to touch her hooves!

I don't know why it bothers me so much, but I wish Stella trusted people more.  I don't have any idea why she is the way she is.  But she is.  I am so grateful that she trusts me and I don't want to lose that trust.

My Plan?  To go back to basics....cuz it was not that long ago that Stella wouldn't let me TOUCH her feet.  I will:
1. Pick up all four every time I'm working with her at least 4 times (probably more)
2. Run a grooming brush over her tootsies
3. Use a hoof pick on her feet, picking, smacking etc
4. Introduce the rasp to all fours over and over and over
5.Try to avoid sedation and terrorist tactics!

I love my mule!