>>> I wonder if her being raised with just one other horse (or maybe this is not so) and with who knows what kind of handling -maybe not having boundaries set?
I wonder too. I think Stali took her own as his responsibility, at least that's how it seemed to me. I get the feeling that maybe her training and handling froze at the state it was when she was two, when she left Unicorn Valley. Her behavior would be more acceptable for a two-year-old, untrained horse. I'd want to work on improving it, but it wouldn't be too surprising either. >> I wonder if her response of getting distracted is her coping mechanism when she is stressed or not really understanding what is being asked?? I really think she was distracted. She lived with Loftur and Buck (with Runa) for a while after she came here. I didn't mind her taking a moment to socialize with them, but after that, I wanted her attention again. This mare is amazingly not stressed and has been since she arrived - an unusually confident mare. Honestly, I was so worried when we were driving her back from Florida, but she stepped off the trailer here with the air of a princess returned from exile - like, where ARE the servants? I think she understands what we ask. She's very smart and catches on very quickly. (Hey, she's Sina's niece - what would you expect!) I get the feeling she is interested in people...for a while. When the herd does something more interesting, she'd rather pay attention to them. Well, at least that HAS been more her mode. >>> I wonder why, if she is moving forward and responding to the whip movement that it is so important that horses turn and face up and then walk to you? This is not the only way to use a round pen and I think your adaptation (at least from how you thought you should use it) of going over to her makes sense to me. For me the idea that a person would consider 'join-up' the only 'right' answer from the horse. I just wanted her to show an awareness of me, and humans in general, so she won't be inadvertently dangerous. That she turned to me, aware of what I was doing seemed enough to me. It rang a bell when Virginia mentioned Orri's resistance to the carrot stick yesterday. Both seem like mere details to me. MAYBE it would be nice if Orri accepted the carrot stick better, and MAYBE it would have been nice if Svertla had walked to me that first time. But it wasn't important enough to me to push for it. Besides, once I let Svertla know that I still "like" her and that all was well, she DID start to follow me. I just made the first move to reassure her. If she hadn't responded so well, or had become oblivious again, maybe I would have moved her forward again, but she didn't. That's enough of a "join up" for me. For now, anyway. >>> It will be interesting to see how this helps her in the herd situation. Don't you think that no matter what we do the bottom line is - did it improve the situation, make it worse or not change it? That is kind of how I look at most things. She met me at the gate today, so I think she's not TOO traumatized. :) I went into her herd, and she started to pin her ears to drive the babies away, and I straightened up and gave her a minor "mother in law" look. She changed her tune quickly, but stayed with me, just being nice and interested. Things obviously aren't worse. I think I'm going to have to get Cary a little more attuned to using an occasional stern look before a problem arises, especially since we have other young ones coming along. The others are no problem, and I don't think she's going to be much of a problem either. And gosh, she so eager to walk out on the trail to see the world - that's a great trait. Karen Thomas [EMAIL PROTECTED]
