To-Do and To-Done

On Saturday we marked Week 6 since Boo came to live with us. I think now is a good time to look at what he's learned and maybe make a brief list of next steps. It's nice to keep track since it seems like he learns so quickly, and I want to be able to look back a year from now and see all this!

So, since he arrived:
- knows how to lunge (only to the left, on the line)
- free lunges both directions, in a proper circle, walk trot canter, voice cues
- picks up 3 of 4 feet easily and 4th with some coaxing
- walks, halts, backs on loose lead
- learning to tie at the tierail (he stood tied for 20 minutes today - superstar!!!) (yes, there were rewards)
- has learned about kids, rude dogs, arenas being dragged, sanitation trucks cleaning the portapotty, gardeners, and how NOT to play in the automatic waterer
- let me brush his ENTIRE mane today - no small feat, it's thick and wavy and was WAY tangled

Next on the to-learn list:

- advanced tying: stand unattended for up to 5 minutes (don't worry, I'll be there, just hidden)
- leading from the right (we're working on this but MAN is it hard for him - the hardest thing EVER)
- towels, blankets, and other things that go on your body
- cross tying
- bathing in the wash rack (comes after cross tying)
- letting me clip that nasty sticky tangled piece of mane where his bridle path should be

I love my boy. He's got such a good mind - open, willing, and the things he gets stuck on or stubborn about are so little, so far. We can do this.