Rocket Day Two: Training Videos

Lydia Cunningham at Mountaintop Ranch gets so many props from me. I couldn't be happier with how they've handled everything with Rocket and Somara, from doing some groundwork with Somara before she foaled, to the difficult delivery, to the near-emergencies after the delivery, to the work they're doing with Rocket now. If I ever breed Lex, I'm going to send her there to have her baby.

Below are two training videos from Rocket's second day of life. I have never trained a foal so I don't know a lot about it, just what I've read in books, so I learned a lot from watching these videos. Lydia is so firm and kind that I bet horses learn well from her. In education we call that a "warm demander" and it helps a lot of kids.

In this first video, they begin by talking about how they thought Rocket might have a ruptured bladder. Oh, and they call her Taxi (she was born on tax day). I think taxis are gross so I'm sticking with Rocket. Anyway, here she learns to follow her nose - an essential first step in learning to lead.

And in this video, they work on desensitizing her to various objects. I wish Lex was as good as Rocket. I've got some work to do!

Today Mom told me that Lydia said Rocket is being a very good girl and leading perfectly. Tomorrow I'll post the videos Mom took on Day 3, so you can see where she started with that. Training foals looks tough.

Here are a few pictures of Day 2: The Very Sleepy Day. I now have about thirty pictures of the filly sleeping, and I could look at them all for hours, but I can't blame you if you find them less thrilling.

Tail check!

The snozzberries taste like snozzberries!

Zonk.

Have some decency and let me sleep in peace! (Not a chance, filly.)

 Fun fun fun! I'm hoping to go ride Lex today but it's rainy, so we'll have to see. She could probably use a day off so if I do ride, it'll be a walk around the field, I'd imagine. I hope everyone is having a great Saturday!