This message is from: [EMAIL PROTECTED] after reading all the comments today about having others ride your fjord, i am thinking that oz simply didn't connect with or like my trainer. she tried to push him, and he shut down is my theory.
i am still working on him. saturday i was going to trailer him to the new barn, and after not being able to get him loaded alone the week before, one of the guys (just past high school, i would guess) who works there came along to help. i figured i would lead, and he would follow along to urge him inside, and close the door. HA. oz didn't fight, he just stood like a rock and refused to move. joe lunged him, saying holy cow, he feels like a draft horse.....no change. lunged him again......still wouldn't move. tried a dressage whip.....nope. we finally got him in with him pushing the butt and me pulling the head. i know, it's not the way it should be done to teach him properly, but i haven't had trouble loading him before..... anyhow, i get there and after our 45 minute drive, he's soaked with sweat. i figured he would be a basket case and come flying out of the trailer like a crazy horse. boy, was i wrong. he quietly stepped out, and walked very nicely into the barn. i turned him out into the indoor, and he of course rolled, and ground sand into every wet hair he could find. i walked him for 20 minutes, and then did some grooming and mane trimming. he was perfectly behaved. they had a stall i could leave him in overnight until he dried off, since it was quite chilly and very windy. when i got there last night, he was happily in his pasture, and came right up to me to be haltered and go inside. we had a nice ride, he stood like a rock for mounting, and was generally very relaxed. so perhaps it is because i was riding him again, and he felt comfortable since this is the place he was when i first got him. he responded very quickly to my cues, and stopped on a dime. there may be hope for us yet. sorry to ramble, but i don't get to tell too many tales of oz on here lately patti jo said perhaps he's grown brains, but his halter no longer fits. i need to get a draft size. and his coat is so thick, i am surprised the saddle stayed on. laurie, and oz, the hit of the barn. even the woman with the $35,000 dutch warmblood just went gaga over him :) The FjordHorse List archives can be found at: http://tinyurl.com/rcepw
