Scouty loves bodywork (unless it is lunchtime) and he has been a great teacher for the students I coach in Masterson Method. He has had a hard time picking up his feet in the past, he is forehand heavy. Over the last year he has loosened up a lot and he no longer nips when I touch the girth or pectorals. In this picture I am working on his TMJ which is great for relieving pressure around the poll area where most horses can be tight.

This is usually how we start doing groundwork and this is the look he gives me. “Are we really going to do this?” But once he gets moving he usually keeps his gait and tempo. I have learned a lot from him about being in the right position which for him, I need to be more at the hind leg. As soon as I get in front of the midline, he thinks he can stop. Horses are so clever and Scout knows how to get me to work harder than he does so I have to be very mindful.

Playtime for Scouty means relaxing and foraging for any grass that might have grown overnight or eating from the pepper trees. I don’t know how they eat from that, the pepper smell is so strong. He does like company and he will stand with me and just relax. I have so much to learn from him and he does keep me in the present.