Saddled! YEAH!

Today was an interesting day. It all started out with me seeing life flash before my eyes. I walked into Spades stall and thought that I might try to catch him in the stall. This is a super dangerous thing to do with this guy but he has been so laid back recently I figured I would try. As I walked in I asked with my body language for him to shift his hind end away from me. He didn't really want to do that. After asking a few times I tossed my long line out to hit his butt. I missed and it fell at his back feet and WHACK! He kicked it three quick times. That confirmed my gut that told me not to get caught in there with him. So I tossed the rope out again this time to his center to try and turn him. When the rope landed across his back I let it rest. Immediately the tension built in him and his eyes went wide. When he started toward me I knew that if he passed me I might get kicked so I dropped the rope and ran like a little girl. As I hurried to the closest fence I was waiting on the force to hit me in the back. I quickly climbed to the top of the fence and turned to see where he was. He had just turned the corner behind me. He ran out to the round pen and turned and snorted. I wasn't sure who scared who worse. Not how I like to start my day. LOL.
After I closed the gate he was geared up so I ran him around a few laps to remind him to use his brain. In the process I tossed my rope out across his back like I did in the stall to see if I would get the same reaction. I didn't. He just walked around with it on. As I moved on I had decided to go pretty bold today and try to get him closer to saddling. My first idea was to put a tight long rope around his center. Most the time the horse will buck and then when they stop you loosen the the tension. So I sent him out and pulled the rope tight and....Nothing. So I was for sure if I moved it back to his flanks then that would get him....Nothing. This has my hopes up that he will not give me any issues riding. I really need a break. I then decided to put a rope around his front foot and see what that reaction would be...Nothing. I will move to the back feet later I am sure that there will be a reaction there. But will he was SO calm I figured that I would saddle him with Gracie's little saddle because I can lift it with one hand. One of my main problems is I don't have anyone that is crazy enough and skilled enough to hold him while I saddle. Plus I don't want anyone hurt. I started with the saddle pad like I have before. Today Spade took a minute or two to warm up to the idea but finally allowed me to get the pad on and off both sides. Seems like a good rub every few seconds helped him relax. As I approached with the saddle he snorted. He has never seen anything like it before. I swung it back and forth many times and he backed and backed. I started to get tired so I moved him quickly in a circle that didn't seem to help so I reached up with my hand holding the lead and rubbed him. In response he stopped and relaxed. So I started to rub him as a would pick up the saddle. This seemed to work and he soon was solid enough to put the saddle on. After I set it I walked around and released the girth. Spade didn't mind the girth but he didn't like the idea of the breast collar. He backed up and I had to let go and then try again. He was fine on the second try. I pushed him back a few feet to make him think reverse not forward. Then sent him into a circle. He didn't even flinch. I am used to at least a little hop from most of mine. Not Spade, he walked, trotted and attempted to lope and he never even raised his back. I am really hoping he stays this way.

After doing so good I unsaddled him and he stood like a regular horse. So I then resaddled him just for good measure. The second time he had no problems. In fact he didn't even move his feet. I was more then happy with his progress today.
I learned today that sometimes you need encouragement even when you don't think so. Before I started to work Spade today I had a long conversation with another mustang trainer. She knew the issues that I was having with Spade and had a few ideas. I love the mustang family because we all share experience and ideas to help each other. When I got on the phone with my friend it was like I had known her for years. Truth was I had never spoken to her outside of the internet. I have had many encounters with my new friends that have been the same way. In the process I asked myself am I that kind of person to others?? I know I am in the mustang area but am I one that encourages others in everyday life? I want to be a person that is so in tune to the Holy Spirit that I don't miss what God might be telling a person that I encounter. I want to be an encourager not a griper or a gossiper. So many times you find people that can only talk about themselves or all they do is gripe or gossip about others. Some let the drama pull them in. I believe that God didn't put us here to tear up relationship with back biting and gossip but to lift each other up in the things that we say. I will be the first to tell you that there are people that I don't like, we all do. But I have a choice to stay away from them and choose other people to hang out with. Today this new friend helped me process some of the things that I have been struggling with regarding Spade. It reminded me that people like being around others that are uplifting and helpful. I encourage you to examine yourself and see if you are one that is an encourager. For years I wanted to have good quality friends, I finally realized that you have to be a great person to be around to pull in great friends. I don't know....Something to think about.