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[RC] - Julie Fuller>>Beccy said>>>> With my Arab, I wonder if there is a brain in there. He is forever looking to the north, just staring, focused on forever. He is absolutely sweet, kind but disconnected somewhere upstairs.>>> This SO remeinded me of a horse my hasband had! Wonderful mare, Paso fino/arab cross. Very willing and forward, smart, but ALWAYS looking somewhere else! I noticed it one day when he was trying to load her in the trailer. She wasn't going in. And she was so totally avoiding eye contact, or aknowledging him AT ALL! It was like there was NO ONE at the end of that lead rope. I sat back and watched, totally fascinated. Alan didn't lose his temper with her physically, but it was obvious he was getting to the end of that rope. Pun fully intended! After quite a lot of coaxing, and help from me, we got her in. But it was very very clear to me it was becasue she just got tired of doing what she was doing, and got in . A few weeks later, that horse was a totally different animal. She and Alan had what he called a "coming to Jesus" talk. He was riding her on the road, same route he always took, and she was not going anywhere but in circles. (This was routine for them also... and this particular episode happened after I had told him to try a crop, which hadn't worked either) Anyway, he got pissed, grabbed the cheek of her bridle and drug her head around, growling right in her face, looking ferociously in her eye (and believe me, he can look seriously ferocious!) when he released her, she trotted straight off up the road, and NEVER did anything like that again. He called me later to tell me what happened. I told him I figured he'd finally managed to say something to her that she understood to mean "I'm the freakin boss here, horse!" The difference was astounding. Ever after, everywhere he went, her eyes were ON HIM. Very cool. Too bad horses don't all speak the same language.... or all of you could do this same trick, and have the perfect horse! *grin* It's always a challenge though, finding that way to say what you mean, in a way they understand. This is a great thread. Julie =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Ridecamp is a service of Endurance Net, http://www.endurance.net. Information, Policy, Disclaimer: http://www.endurance.net/Ridecamp Subscribe/Unsubscribe http://www.endurance.net/ridecamp/logon.asp Ride Long and Ride Safe!! =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
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