--- Janice McDonald <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > it is increasingly becoming my own personal experience that the extremely nurtured and loved and doted on horse just freaks out when we suddenly act "tough" but if you can get them calm and back to thinking mode then it works out awesome.<<
It's not that I got "tough", it's that he needed to stop jumping when I would trip, or drop the lead rope, or any sudden movements. Andi has always been jumpy at sudden movements. Even when learning to flex, and I'd drop the rope when he gave to reward him, he would jump. He needed to get over that! Just trying to lunge him calmly and slowly and talking to him soothingly, he would race around in a circle at the end of the lunge line. He needed calming and to realize he was not going to be hurt by a dropped lead rope. He now takes having the 14' lead rope tossed all over and the stick and string, and I can beat the ground beside him with the stick and string and helocopter it above his head. I can also take a stick and Wal-Mart bag and "pop" it all over his body and he stands there bored. Plus, he will now lunge slowly and quietly and not act as if lunging is something to escape from. He desperately needed major de-sensitizing, and I needed to see it thru when he freaked. Now the freaking is over, and the learning can begin. Susan in NV Happy High Desert Trails Susan in NV Nevermore Ranch http://users.oasisol.com/nevermore/ ____________________________________________________________________________________ Looking for earth-friendly autos? Browse Top Cars by "Green Rating" at Yahoo! Autos' Green Center. http://autos.yahoo.com/green_center/
