Just a little over a week ago, my friend Bonnie and I did our best, in a rainstorm, to load Wrigley and take him to training.

After 2 hours (and extreme saturation), we decided to put Finn in first.  Of course, that worked like a dream and both trailered off, soaking wet, to the trainer.  Finn came back home with me.

Today, I took my lunch break out at the trainer’s.  I figure that it does no good for Wrig to be trained without my participation…  I need to understand him and myself with him.  So, I went.

WRIGLEY IS LEARNING!

Jerily is a solid, kind (not soft) trainer who has no issue with getting on colts.  Wrig, of course, is no colt.  He is a 7 year-old gelding.  But, he may as well be a colt because he has done just about nothing other than ground work for his entire life.

Jerily is the perfect first trainer for him.  She will take all the time she needs and will have no fear when putting up with the Wrigley Squiglies.  He is very upheaded and evasive when insecure.

And, she tells it like it is.

I know that I will have a solid evaluation after he’s been trained.

Her first comment was, “He’s not afraid… he looks like he is afraid when he gets really upheaded, but he isn’t afraid.  He’s insecure.  In fact, he surprises me what he’s not afraid of… he isn’t afraid of just about anything.  He is very desensitized.  But, he is insecure about new surroundings.  New places upset him.  And, he likes company.  He doesn’t like to be alone.”

All true.

SO SHE DID THIS AND THAT (yields and turns…)… AND THEN SHE SWUNG HER LEG OVER!!!  She said, “I think he’s ready.”  AMAZING.

We chatted as she worked him.  I watched her train him to not lean into her for security – he does that a lot.  He went right and left on the long line.  He moved his haunches and sidepassed.  Progress!

All the while, he’d glance over at me.  “If you’re here, I’m guessing this is all legit.”

Jerily told me that Wrig was secure in the round pen, so they went in there.

After about 45 minutes of grooming, saddling and messing with him, she took off her spurs and got on him.  Just.  Like. That.

And he WAS ready!  In fact, he was very proud of himself afterwards.   I swear he looked right at me and said, “Look at what I just did!  I have a job!”

Wrig looked sated, maybe even relaxed.   I could see it in his eyes.  For the very first time, I think he felt contented.  He finally knew that he was a horse, like all the others.  And, he was there to learn how to do what all the other horses could do.  He understood that it was his time – finally.

NOVEMBER BUCKET FUND:  THE PEACEABLE FARMS SURVIVORS!  Click here to read the story!