Sunday's wind gave way to Monday's rain. The footing was still decent in the front pasture so I turned Nell and Patience out with Mello for a good portion of the day. They grazed and occasionally had bouts of silliness in the cool drizzle.

Back in Keno's more comfortable quarters I decided to see if I could unhalter Keno and rehalter her. Now Keno's not real thrilled with people just walking up and putting their hands on her face so I worked out a little routine with her until she can get more accustomed to being haltered.

I'd come up to Keno's shoulder, present the halter and ask her to "Touch it!" When she did I'd slip it up my left arm and pull out my progress string. Again we'd "Touch it!" Next I'd slip the progress string over her neck, pass the end through the eye and adjust it as a noose just behind her poll. With a soft pull on this aid, I could adjust her head position as needed.

Next I reached over her neck with my right hand and passed the halter poll strap with my left hand under her throat, making sure not to hit the dangling progress string and handing the poll strap from my left hand to my right. Once I had the halter in both hands, I'd grab the near cheek of the halter in my left hand and direct the nose band toward Keno's nose.

As expected Keno raised her head away from the halter noseband. "Touch it!" Keno touched the noseband and I was able to gently slip the halter on. Each attempt got smoother. After a few installations and removals, I left for a while then returned after a few minutes and repeated the exercise. She seemed pretty consistent.

I decided that a turnout would be a nice reward so we went out to the large riding arena. Once in it I let her loose and she spent about a half hour sniffing around and getting in a couple of good rolls. Then she realized she had room to run and run she did, head and tail up high, making the sand fly.

In the meanwhile Mikey, who was loose in the stable grazing, wandered up to see what was going on. Patience was nearby checking out remnants in the pasture manger and Mikey wandered over to see her. They met at the pasture gate. Nell, who has an obsessive crush on Mikey saw this going on, came racing up squealing, then spun around headed backwards toward Patience, rabbit kicking with each step.

Patience was having none of this. Caught by surprise she rammed the gateand all three took off across the stable. Keno, who watched the calamitous goings on in quiet amazement was now bucking and farting and racing around the arena.

After gathering up the loose mustangs, it started to rain again, so I figured it was time to bring Keno in. She was still pretty up from all the commotion. She met me at the gate but when I entered the arena, she went cantering off for a couple of laps. Each time she finished bout two laps she would face me and trot toward me, but just before she got to me, she'd pick up speed and take off. No problem. We just turned it into an arena sized longe lesson. Horse leaves, horse is asked ] to canter and the pressure is left on for a couple of laps. She seemed to enjoy the work but after a half dozen times being sent out, she was ready to come in. She met me about half way and stopped. I walked up to her. At first she did her wary, mincy mustang thing at my approach, but I cued her to "Stand still" which she did. I clicked her and rewarded her.

Since this was day one of being haltered, I had turned her out with the halter on. She stood perfectly still while I snapped on the lead rope and led like a lady to her paddock where I took her halter off. About 3 hours later I entered her paddock again and she again haltered nicely with the aid of the progress string and click "Touch it!"

More to follow...