get a rolled up empty paper feed bag. Rub it all over, both sides til
she is taking a nap. Then lightly VERY lightly whisk her with it,
both sides, til napping. run it up under the belly and in between all
the legs til she is napping. then lightly whop it along the back and
sides, neck, between the eyes but only if she is napping. This is one
of the best things I know of you can do to a horse. It may take
several sessions if done right, not moving on til they are ready and
napping.. I can kill a fly between jaspars eyes with a crop and he
wont even blink. he trusts me completely with anything around him,
any weird object. but its very important you dont stop til they are
napping and they are completely free at all times, not even a halter,
so psychologically they know they are free to go. And if you stop
while they are still flinching from it you have only taught them the
scarey thing does indeed exist, instead of there is no scarey thing.
But please, PLEASE if you are so stupid as to go out and start
whopping your horse upside the head without a huge amount of
incremental desensitization, then you deserve the monster you create.
honestly, just please dont even try. (not talking to you here nancy
but others who might be reading)
Janice--
even good horses have bad days sometimes.
