Day 7 of Handling with our Newest Member (Part 2)

Edited by YouCut:app.youcut.net/BestEditor

[@ronjessie8194]

He seemed to be pretty calm while you were working with him.

[@SerenityHorsemanship]

He has been more accepting after this whole week. First day you could consider him a wild horse. Done a ton of working on getting him to face me before I started to catch him 😊

[@PhilipCheadle]

Really nice baby steps. I’m working with a 3 yo rescue gelding. Must have been hit or whipped bc he was afraid of everything and very head shy. I spent 14 sessions (like 4 per week) just walking around him softly in his paddock. Slowly making his bubble smaller while I carried a rope or training stick just so he could see various tools without putting pressure on him too soon. Got him to swing his hips over both sides by focusing my eyes on them, face up, and start to follow from about 10-15 feet away from me. Eventually I could approach and stand right next to him at his shoulder and he was relaxed, licking and chewing. But still very fearful of my hands. Then I put him in a stall 3x last week and started presenting the halter, got him to enjoy a game of putting his nose into it a bit and then I would gently massage his blaze with the halter and my hand but he didn’t know it. I’m taking lots of time to get the smallest gains. But his feet are getting bad and I’m under pressure to get him halter broke and ready for the farrier. Watching you helps remind me that I have to keep listening to him while I keep pushing those safety zones so he advances. I’m thinking I might try the easy lariat as you did and work with it to prepare for the haltering. Will follow you, nice patient progress with your horse there. 😊

[@SerenityHorsemanship]

Thank you very much! It sounds like you've done a very much job with him! Even thought he needs his feet done I wouldn't keep worrying about that, as your emotions of being "rushed" with start to cause more setbacks since you've thinking of the top of the ladder instead of the steps to get there. Be patient and ask little at a time get them use to just leading and being touched. Everything else later is just the cherry on the pie. If you introduce to many new things as once it can be overwhelming, or if you do a session to long they are become dull. His sessions usually last between 15-20 mins. The more times I can get him to soak the better he will retain that knowledge. Soaking is leaving them alone to think (since he isn't handled or trained) For a somewhat trained horse you might do a task them walk off with him and not ask anything else besides just walking with you, then you might resume that lesson. Don't do it for a long time either. Speed is Greed! Also try not to pull the lead time, if you want to teach softness and feel. If you want drag in your horse and resistance then that's what will happen. Get a small area such as a round pen or a stall in his case, and when he walks off make the right thing easy and the wrong thing difficult, "help" him leave so he can understand its harder to be away when you are around. Its nicer to be with you! Hope that helps!

[@PhilipCheadle]

@@SerenityHorsemanship Thank You, I will keep your tips in mind. Speed is Greed. I get it. 👍

[@serenityhorsemanship3365]

1. Attention (Focus) 2. Relaxed Connection (Attraction) 3. Acceptance (Movement/Touch/Tools/Halter) Always remembering that "Speed is Greed"