When he was first trained Jo did > "free" lunging with him and ran alongside him and he loved it. They > would go over obstacles and do all kinds of things and he was so > proud! > > Ann > yes, when i took him to our sheriffs posse certification practice, he started out acting casual, like on a trail ride, then he caught on really quick that it wasnt casual at all. We would have to stand in a long line a horse length apart and march forward in unison the length of the arena with police sirens blaring then stand with his nose to the barricade while people on the other side waved arms and yelled and when he danced I would take him right back there and after about a half hour he seemed like he got really into it, that this was some special deal where he had to behave in some controlled manner and he started being very in tune with all my cues and seemed very proud of himself when I would praise him. And when we ride with nutty horses and they go berserk :) bolt or buck etc and he remains calm I praise praise praise and he acts so mature and proud like "I am good and they are bad" haha, so I know he likes training. But my fox was never roundpenned in his life til I did it and he immediately launched into a frantic zombie thing and would not stop til I forced him and he was so upset... just some horses arent cut out for it I think! Did you ever ride tivar bareback ann? He didnt seem to want me on him bareback. I took him to the mounting block and he acted upset. I wondered why... maybe he can feel too much? Janice
-- even good horses have bad days sometimes.
