He carried me through the gate!

I like the idea of riding without intentions. Chance does too. It's relaxing for both of us. I took him into the ring with no idea of what we where going to do, just no routine. So I did the ground work we do know (Yes, that is routine) but for safety I have to make sure he was feeling okay. I brought him to one of the barrels, climbed up and when he was ready I got on. Bareback with a rope halter. I let him take me where ever he wants, sometimes he stops, and sometimes I'll ask him to change direction. Every few minutes I check in with him and yes he is still with me. No pressure, deep breaths, scratching his neck and enjoying the moment. He even did a little trotting. :)

After a while I asked my mother-in-law to open the gate for us. The one down at the barn, not on the hill. This is the same gate I walk him in and out of EVERY day. But this time I was on his back. I asked Chance to walk in that direction. He did but wasn't feeling that great about it. So we turned around and stayed in for a few more minutes and then I asked again. We gradually got closer and then he found a little bit of hay. It was right in the middle of the open gate. It was nervous eating but after a minute or so it took his mind off of the scary thought of leaving the ring. I let him eat and relax again, more breathing, more scratching. When he was ready I asked and he carried me through v-e-r-y s-l-o-w-l-y. He stopped and looked around. I asked him to check in with me, and yes, he was still with me. We found some grass and clover, I let him stand and eat and enjoy the moment. I was enjoying it too! It was time to go back in, I asked him to go through and again he wasn't feeling good about it. I asked him to walk around avoiding the gate which helped. Eventually he was ready and we went back in. Then we went back in and out one more time. This time it was much better, he was a lot more relaxed so I got off, gave him a hug, a mint and some hay.