On Tue, Sep 18, 2007 at 12:54:58PM -0700, Nancy Sturm wrote: > Then she did what I sort of thought she might. She stopped dead in the > water and really didn't want to move ever again. > [...] > I didn't want to get after her and didn't have a whip anyway, so I just sat > there in the pretty morning sunshine until she moved forward on her own > and then I praised her lavishly. > > If there'd been anyone around, I'd have had them lead her, but I was alone. > And yes, before someone reminds me, 65 year old great grandmas probably > should not be starting horses alone. > > Suggestions?
i know virtually nothing about starting young horses, but it sounds to me like you did exactly the right thing, and it's the same thing i'd suggest someone do on an older horse who'd scared themselves too. give them a minute to get their act together; praise them when they do. i don't think adding a whip would have been at all good for the situation -- might even have scared her more. a person on the ground might have helped her collect her wits quicker, but you won't always have such a person, as you've already discovered. so for what my free advice is worth, i think you're already fine :) --vicka
