Cody’s New Saddle!

Well, this was a big day. I love how all the animals are watching me lead Cody away from them… it’s like they know something is gonna happen to him… they are not sure if they should follow or stay back a bit and make sure it’s not something ucky… like a bath or yucky worming medicine or something…

Naw, it’s see how he likes his new saddle day!

Now, I know he was broke to harness and with a careful easy approach, we confirmed that. He’s quite good under harness and is very calm. Haven’t been able to try him with a cart, since I don’t have one, but I suspect he would be fine with it. But a saddle? Well, we only had that one occasion that we tried to set a little girl on him and he really didn’t want anything to do with it. Of course, in hindsight, that was like 2 days after he arrived and he wasn’t totally sure about everything. And he only started to crow hop a bit, so who knows?

But I have been slowly working on him with a bareback pad that I got at a garage sale, and just seeing how he liked that. Having something on his back. And he was fine with it. I could even lean a bit on it, and he was fine with it. Making good progress, I figure,

So when I hitched him to the post, I just laid the saddle blanket on him and he was fine with that. Pretty much like the bareback pad. And then I gave him a good long time to sniff the saddle over. I love this picture, because he’s alert and interested, not upset or annoyed. That’s my little Cody boy!

Ever so gently, I lowered it on his back, talking and giving him a little pat and encouragement. I was ready that if he would object, it was coming right off. And of course, he was fine with it. I just let him stand there and get used to the weight. It’s not heavy, but it’s not light either.

He got a treat for being such a good boy and I just let it dangle there, not secured, just placed on him till he was done with the treat and just looking at me with this, “What next, Mom?” look. I saw that it was not quite right with the blanket, so I removed it and fussed with a little different fold. It’s hard to find things that fit him properly, being such a little critter.

Of course, Buttercup and Daisy were all interested in what we were doing and the saddle. I’m sure it smells of pony bygone…

Once I got the blanket a bit better, we tried it again and he was really fine with it. I was so happy! He was interested in the experience and wasn’t at all crabby or unhappy. He’s such a good little toot! I got it cinched up, taking my time and giving him plenty of time to adjust to the whole sensation. Got it tight enough that I figured it wouldn’t slip off and scare him, but perhaps not super tight for a rider. Well, tight enough… you know. I sure didn’t want it to slide off and give him a fright. I thought it was awesome that he wasn’t blowing up or trying to be ornery at all. This makes me think that he’s really not been broke to ride since so many horses and ponies know that little trick. After he got cinched up and was being SO GOOD, he got another pony cookie. It’s his favorite currency.

Since he seemed really fine with it, I thought a little stroll would be good. Just here and there, so he could feel the saddle shift and move a bit, and the sounds and such. He was so good at it! I was stunned. He turned around to sniff it a time or two and I let him have all the time he needed. Jessy was taking pictures for me.

Now, I’m not one to overtreat him, but this was such a huge thing, that I wanted to make sure he really enjoyed the first session. I do that a lot with the various animals. The first time or two that we introduce something totally new or unique, there is usually goodies involved. It makes them very eager to try new things. After we get the hang of it, there is less and less of a treat reward, more of good pats and vocal encouragement. There is the occasional treat, just to reenforce things… I had three cookies with me. One for getting the saddle on. One for walking about. And one for the finish and a good boy reward. So far, we were done with two!

Well, I didn’t have a sack of potatoes to lay on the saddle and of course, all of us ladies are far too plump for a little Shetland pony, so I was stuck with what to do. And then I thought, well, how about a goat? They don’t weigh much and they are agile and can balance well, and jump clear if he was upset. So I picked up Miss Daisy and she was eager for a pony ride. I carefully set her down, holding most of her weight in my arms until I saw that Cody was fine with it. And sure enough, he was. Well, I just let them stand there, wasn’t ready to push the whole weight and walking thing. Lots of encouragement. He was awesome!

Funny thing… Buttercup wanted a ride too! She was going to get up on her own!!!! Goats are so funny. Shesh. So I lifted her little rump up there and sure enough, Cody was fine.

I had to draw the line at goats riding ponies when Rana and Rafeka got in line. They weigh a good deal and are squirmy to pick up. But they were pretty impressed with our new goat and pony act. I do believe we should consider hitting the road soon!

Well, then Duke came over to see what the fuss was all about and I put him up there. Now how many cat riding ponies have you seen in the last few days? And they match so nicely! I actually let him get a little stroll in, and the cat sat there for the whole trip! Of course, I don’t think he weighed very much and that Cody even knew he was there.

Buttercup wanted another ride, but I told her no. I wanted the lesson to be done with soon, because I don’t think it’s good to try new things too long with animals. Smaller, shorter sessions really seem to be more effective. He was getting a little tired of the other animals staring and crowding around and I knew it was pretty much time to relieve him of this new lesson.

Still, I was sure one proud pony mom! We’ll try again later, and maybe even find a little kid volunteer to see how he goes with that.

When we were done, I let him have a very good sniff over it, to see what he thought. The goats were very interested in it as well. Silly thing. Bill is due out to trim his hooves again (they are growing so fast this summer! It was only 7 weeks before he got them trimmed…) And I hope Bill will have some more pointers for me. I will keep up with the saddle, here and there, just to get him really good and used to it.