I
rescued a 2 year old totally blind Friesian a few years ago and he's the best
horse I've worked with. Was a bit dangerous when he first came here, but
all he needed was a little patience and consistency. He's 5 now and can do
it all.
He took 4th place out of 16 horses in his very first dressage
show, we didn't even tell the audience or the judges.
I ride him on
trails, same trails as Tevis and the American River Ride are held. Just
for fun, I even took him on a Search And Rescue Qualifying Ride on the American
River trail, which was 4 hours and some very technical stuff. He even had
to cross the bridge several times (and had never been on one) in order to help
the other young horses across.
He knows the verbal commands "step up" and
"step down". The degree of the up or down is cued by the reins--higher on
the neck means a higher grade up. If the command is given while he's
moving, it's a gradual grade. If it's a step like into a trailer or up a
boulder or curb, I halt him and give the command, that means the next step
forward is up or down, not just a grade, in which he will paddle the air to find
the ledge. He really taught himself these things because if he didn't
listen, he'd stumble and the negative reinforcement was accurate enough for him
to learn quickly. My job was to *never lie* (nor forget to cue) and be
consistent.
He also stops on a dime. To teach him this, I walk him
into a no climb horse fence at home and say whoa when the next step is into the
fence. I give him a tune up now and then with this technique and it keeps
him very focused on me. I wish this trick would work with all my
horses... :)
<<intensely tuned into me......trusting me, a
stranger, not to let him get hurt. >> Honestly, isn't this what
we expect of any horse?
I have to say that Mojo is one of the better,
most balanced horses I've ever ridden. He doesn't spook at the monsters
and never daydreams or spectates instead of listening to my cues. His
rider is his world and his freedom.
He has an inspirational book out that
was donated by the author for the proceeds go to his ongoing care. Next
month he is going to a dressage rider in LA that believes he could go Grand
Prix.
