Day 4: 1st mile walk complete

After 3 mini test walks each one slightly longer than the last yesterday.. The first one began with front yard exploration and was about .2 miles in length . The second one we doubled that and the third was probably about half a mile. Today, Ike and I officially completed our first mile walk out together. He's doing much better at not diving for grass as I'm getting after his withers with the end of the lead rope when he does. It's cute in that his facial expression says mmm.. And his attention goes towards whatever clutch of grass is tempting him and then he pops his head up... Like "wait! That's not worth it" super awesome for such a young and new to me guy. :). Also, much MUCH calmer about faster louder cars/trucks. Walked by fenced barking dogs today which he wanted to run past with fear, so we turned around and did it again. Even in the second pass, he just walked by, but we still turned and did it a few times so it wasn't a big deal. Crossing EVERYTHING he's asked. (Logs, rock piles, ditches, up and down hills, cracks on the road, pavement changes, had him walk between a fence and a tarped car with only enough room for me to lead and him to follow single file. Walked by lots of bushes ad dense tree lines which he's not yet comfortable with (will be!) and visited the laying cows again today to make them a casual aspect in a walk. Had him carry my sweater on his back as I got hot. Did perfect. I can ask him to touch/smell big metal boxes, trailers, tarped cars, mailboxes, signs, fire hydrants, barrels, trash bins, vines plants on fence lines. (Everything he snorts at or looks at with a cocked head and body language that suggests he's unsure) He's gonna be super exposed by the time he's ready to actually ride. :)
(Photos taken on the 5th walk out in the afternoon with my awesome boyfriend as the photographer. ) :)












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