> I think a promise wrap - actually I would use a body wrap - is a great idea. > When horses rush through narrow, or not so narrow openings, it is my > experience that they don't have a good sense of where they are in space - > the propriocetive part of the brain. Having the light pressure touch of the > body wrap helps to activate this system. Good for Janice to realize that > your horse is nervous about narrow spaces and IME just keeping repeating it > does not get to the root of the fear and the more they rush through it the > higher the stress. >
I dont have LTJs new book yet Robyn, is this where I would find the details of the body wrap? My only concern and maybe this is where it stems from... as a 15 month old he somehow got a tarp hung on his back foot and went nuts racing around. After that i worked hard on desensitizing him to most everything. But he seems upset if anything "catches" him unexpectedly and seems overly vigilant about things around the tail. In fact, one of his defenses when startled has always been to kick out so it may have even been in him before I got him as a 14 mo old. He is not a kicker... if I am around him tho I always let him know, he is ok if I say his name first and reach and grab him anywhere. But once I walked from around the trailer while he was tied, startled him, (I was carrying a heavy saddle and stumbled) and he kicked out. He does not kick out from being mean, but from being suddenly startled. and he hasnt kicked out at a human in years. But on the trail if a vine gets caught in his tail he gets all upset and stands with his butt all hunkered up all tense while I get it out. Janice -- even good horses have bad days sometimes.
