On 4/30/08, Janice McDonald <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > > > nasi has been trained up til now to whoa, go, stand still at the > mounting block while I lean over him waving arms around, wiggle the > saddle vigorously, slap the stirrups against his side etc. He is fine > with all that. just stands there. I have ponied him on two trail > rides, he did great. He seems unafraid and not spooky of anything. > >
I just had the same idea yesterday. I've finally gotten my horses in to a situation that is much closer to my house, only a few miles, where I can see them everyday. I am actually amazed at how little I have had to go over things with Snorri, as long as I do it right. I think I ground drove him a couple times, had already taught him to give to real light pressure at that point, not many sessions, so we were having a zen moment yesterday, one where he was really happy with me b/c I came to his rescue when he was trying to bite and itchy spot on his butt. I have recently leaned over his back a couple times, but not all the way on. So in this zen moment, I put a sidepull on him, and jumped on bareback. He stood real nice, then he took a few steps, figuring out his balance, also stopped on a really light touch, very nicely. I did this three times. Maybe two minutes each. The last one, I tapped his butt, and he did a turn on the forehand, which was also rewarded, we will get the signals straight for forward and engaging the hindquarters. So it was great. I also have lost 40 lbs over the last several months, partially because I thought I would be too heavy for him at that point. I think he can handle it now, just for a little walking. Lately I feel I have awakened in some aspects of how to get the best out of the horse, like really seeing how our energy affects the energy of the horse, etc. I think my point is that riding a horse for the first time does not have to be a dangerous, dramatic affair, it really isn't if you are in tune............I'll get a video of the next time, now I have a video helper. Kim M. (in Kentucky)
