Libby today

You can't tell by looking, but Libby had a big adventure and learning experience just before Cliff took this picture.

I've been ponying her alongside Blue for almost a year, here on our place. Today I decided she was ready for a longer trip into the big world: I saddled both horses and we rode along the highway and down to the Missouri river bottom. I'd guess our trip took us about four miles, round trip. Because it's pretty muddy down there, I didn't rush the horses. We were gone an hour and a half.

So now Libby has experienced cars going past us (no problem); crossing railroad tracks (no problem); a man using a chain saw beside the road (no problem); a German Shepherd coming out of nowhere, barking (she simply jumped in surprise, just like she did when a nearby cow stood up later).

Ten days ago I couldn't pick up her hind feet at all. Today after our ride, Cliff and the grandson trimmed all four of her feet, and she only pulled one hind foot away, one time.

Working with Libby has been one of the most rewarding and gratifying experiences of my life.

Of course, after such a long workout, both horses were starved.

In answer to Midlife Mom's question in the comment section: Libby is mine. I got her because she was cheap ($150), a Foxtrotter like Blue, and friendly. I would NEVER attempt to break a horse for anyone else; in fact, I've never done any horse-training before. It's her good nature that has made this process so easy for me. She wants to please. If she does something wrong, it's because she doesn't understand what I want. Her previous owners said when they sold Libby's mom, the little filly was wild. They cornered her in a barn, managed to put a halter on her, and forced her to lead... behind a tractor, I think. Sounds cruel, but it worked; when I went to look at her, she was the first one to come up and meet us in the pasture. Her previous owners have emailed me saying that if I should decide to sell her, they might be interested. They've followed her progress in my blogs.