i know, you think, well, you dont want to spoil them, but they are used to you and the way you do things, then when someone real strict and stern comes along they are so afraid and startled they shut down the thinking part of the brain and go into the reactive part which is not learning at all. I have a problem of being too lenient then when I get fed up oh my god my horses scatter like I am godzilla, rising from the sea. But they KNOW me...
i carry a huge long lunge whip to get them in from pasture and I have to whack the ground with it at their heels before they will even pay attention, but thats the sign, they know then I mean business... Fox is a little scared of the big whip, so I always wait til he is in his paddock and calm and walk to him with it and hold it while i pet him and stroke his shoulder with it and he licks and chews, nervous, but doesnt run away. But I can promise you if anyone ever laid a whip into him in anger and actually hit him with it i doubt he would EVER get over it... and thats the dilemma, the line between motivating them with the thinking part of the brain as opposed to scaring them because once they turn on the reactive part of the brain they arent learning they are fleeing. and then they havent learned anything but to fear you. janice -- yipie tie yie yo
