As promised, here's some more info on the big Horsenality breakthrough I had with Ladybug which has proven to be one of the most important realizations I've ever had..

Yesterday; the same day I had that huge breakthrough with Bailey, I played with 'Bug for the first time in a few weeks since I'd become frustrated with her and our serious lack of communication which I now understand was because I was misreading my horse!

One of the first things she did was throw a tantrum. Now, this girl is wonderfully athletic! She was pulling back, rearing, bucking and trying her hardest to get away from me and back to her herd. But, because I did so much studying during our time apart I noticed something I wouldn't usually have noticed and I responded in a totally different way.. There's a fifty-fifty chance, right?!

Well, this time I was right. (FINALLY!)

She was throwing a left-brain tantrum, of course. I already knew that.. but when I said "You want to move? OKAY! Let me help you!" and proceeded to send her into a lot of crazy patterns and then starting running with her myself.. she stopped and gave me the most attention I've ever got out of this horse and she didn't want to move anymore. In fact, she didn't want to move at all. This is when a theory appeared:

What if.. this ridiculously smart horse has figured out that if she moves her feet and throws these tantrums that I'll leave her alone? What if my horse is a total Left-Brain Introvert who has used her thinking power to wiggle her way out of another thing she didn't want to do? That thing of course being play with me.

I took that theory, applied some techniques that went hand in hand with it and the rest of the lesson went really well, ending on a decent note and I vowed to give it some thought and play with this idea again today.

SO, today I went out there super early and set things up.. I hid treats around randomly in/on/under certain objects and then I hid some more in my back pockets. (This horse is seriously food oriented and I feel like I'm just now starting to grasp how to use this for my advantage.)
By then, both horses were just dying to know what I was doing and I noticed that today as opposed to yesterday, Lady stayed to be haltered first. Usually it's the "You'll have to chase me!" "Oh, what horse?" game.

Not today. I think she wanted to know what else I had up my sleeve. Using more LBI-friendly techniques throughout our playtime earned me the most lovely, sweet, curious, ENTHRALLED look I have ever got out of her. CONSISTENTLY! I was interesting! I made it worth her attention AND I challenged her brain with a few patterns and she tried so hard for me. We also started fixing the issue we had been having with a crooked yo-yo and ineffective phases. (THANKS SO MUCH FOR YOUR HELP, FRAN!) I now have more awareness of my body and a totally different 'creepy uncle that tickles you' mindframe. "I'm gonna get you!" with my phase one and it has really made a huge difference. Not to mention the changes in my sense of humor! She's such a funny horse!

Our ending note was the greatest bit; she had two feet on the tire and I fed her the two treats that I saved for her in my pockets and it blew her mind. Looots of friendly on the tire and that's where I took her halter off. I was so happy with how the session went that I was ready for it to end. I backed away from the tire and she followed me and STUCK to me like glue. I tested it a little by walking forward, stopping and backing up and she was right there with me with no halter, mirroring me.
She wanted to be with me! I feel so accomplished and tuned into my horse. It rocked!

I also spent a lot of time just hanging out with the two of them today.. my little cousin tagged along and we brushed Bailey down until he fell asleep. It was some good bonding time and I feel like the whole day has just been great. I'm considering filming my Audition junk tomorrow and then Sunday, the 4th is my mom's birthday! So we're headed to the beach for the day and I can't wait. Yay, good stuff! Boo, allergies!