I decided to take a couple of days off clicker training. More of a retreat and regroup while I organise a plan. Well I still do maintainance with some carrots and otherwise they get feed in a bowl as before the clicker training. This is definitely not acceptable to Ofeig. She wants the training please. In fact I'm altogether worried that she is too bonded to me. Is that possible? Maybe she is addicted to clicker training. Is that something to be worried about? It has occured to me that she may be under the delusion that she is training me. I have been getting her to do 'stand still and look out the window while I put up a hay net'. If I take too long to click her she briefly turns and nudges me going immediately back to the window. I have been trying to put her spontaneous headlowering on cue. I'm only clicking if I have initiated it with a hand cue. She soon cottoned on and after 3 spontaneous nods without a click she managed to turn and toss my arm over her head and do a quick nod. I did click and treat her but somehow it didn't feel like I was in charge. Corrie knows that lowering the head is not a forward moving exercise. Is it a backing exercise? She looks like Tony Blair exiting an audience with the Queen. She only backs with headlowering if I'm on her blind side. The good news is that neither of them barge out of the stable now. They wait for my signal even if the door is wide open. I'm going to do some mat work next. I will be glad when the slippery mud has gone. My back is really playing up. Rising trot was hell the other day. We had beautiful sunshine today but I couldn't face riding and then leading Corrie back through the mud. It's too unsafe onboard or on the ground. She nearly fell on me twice last time. Are no training days ok, well there is no such thing unless I don't handle them at all. I wish there were no poo days too!
Sue Lincolnshire UK
