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On the other hand, all horses can benefit from a desensitizing
session or two or more.
I do not train while feeding the horses. Four horses can get
impatient if one is being trained. But, I do demand my space
from them, and proper behavior from them. Only Elliot at 18
months is still figuring this out. Hands on hips and a mean
glare at him will back him into his corner if he gets too pushy
at meal time.
I took a four year old, green arab, through a major desensatizing
clinic, and he did better than most of the old horses there. For
the Northern Colorado Mounted Patrol, all the horses must pass a
all day test to show that the horse and rider team can handle anything
that public can throw at them. If you want, I'll send you privately
a long message on the clinics.
A few rules to start with - Make sure you stay safe. Do not confine
the horse. Never ever ever tie anything to the horse. Make sure that
what ever you start, you can finish. Your horse should always finish
feeling good.
It really helps to have a helper, but you can do it yourself.
With a helper, you hold the horse, the helper brings in the scarey
things. You control the horse and only have to worry about the
horse. If the horse freaks, the helper can walk away with the
scarey thing, and you can tell the horse to chase it away.
If you are working alone, you need to carefully watch the horse
and know just how far to push him. Start with something that is
not so scarey. Hold the lead rope, but let him move around if
he wants. Never push him to the point of freaking out. A little
scared is ok and even good.
Decide before hand what the right behavior is. Standing without
moving. Standing without shaking. Moving forward at a walk.
What ever. But one behavior is what you want. Look for it and
reward it.
Recently I started a scaredie cat horse. You know, the kid that is
frightened of his own shadow. I really needed to get Dragon to move
beyond this. So, first teach him to walk in hand. Been doing this
from day one, but reinforce the lessons. Now, walk by that big scarey
thing - a bag of cans. I kick the bag as we go by (Kick it away from
Dragon). Dragon jumps, snorts watches for the bag to come get him.
It doesn't. OK. Walk around, then come back to the bag. Kick it
away. Same thing, but not so scarey. Repeat many times. Finish for
day when Dragon says, ho hum. Next day, repeat, then kick it in
front of him. Pretty soon can kick it under him. Pretty soon can
pick it up and drape it all over him. No problem. No scared horse.
In two short lessons, he is no longer afraid of the bag.
Notice there are several steps here.
1. Noise and things moving away.
2. Noise and things moving toward the horse.
3. Noise and the thing touches the horse.
4. And then it moves above the horse's head.
When riding, you'll do the same steps.
1. Ride toward a scarey thing, and then *before* the horse spooks,
ride away from it.
2. Ride towards and then over the scarey thing. I'm talking of
scarey things like a plastic tarp.
3. Continue until the horse ignore the scarey thing.
You'll also need to repeat the bag of cans while riding.
1. Using a rope, pull the bag towards you. Remember, you can
always let go of the rope.
2. Drag the bag.
3. Pick up the bag and touch the horse with it.
4. Lay the bag on the horse's rump. Let it fall off.
5. Move the bag around above the horse's head.
All of these things can help while riding endurance - This is
the endurance list, isn't it?
While trotting along, you just have to take off your jacket.
Off comes the jacket - a flapping thing that is above and around
the horse's head. He ignores it and keeps on trotting down the
trail. Now you have to figure out how to stay in the saddle,
twist around and tie the jacket to the saddle, where it will
touch the horse's side.
When opening a gate, the gate might touch the side of the horse.
The rider in front looses something that flaps and flutters on the
trail, and you have to go by that boogie.
If you can get your horse to accept a bag of cans, a can with pebbles
in it, plastic tarp on the ground, and slicker on a fence, you can
pretty much get through anything a trail will give to you.
Of course, there is always the WALL OF DEATH for the really scarey
thing.
-- Wendy\|/ /\ -O- /**\ /|\ /****\ /\ / \ /**\ Here there be dragons / /\ / \ /\ /\ /\ /\ /\/\/\ /\ / / \ / \ / \/\/ \/ \ /\/ \/\ /\ /\/ / / \/ \ / / \/ /\ \ / \ \ / \/ / / \/ \/ \ / \ \ / / \/ \/\ \ / \ / / \ __/__/_______/___/__\___\__________________________________________________
Wendy Milner HPDesk: wendy_milner@hp4000 Hewlett-Packard Company e-mail: wendy@fc.hp.com Mail Stop A2 Telnet: 229-2182 3404 E. Harmony Rd. AT&T: (970) 229-2182 Fort Collins, CO, 80525 FAX: (970) 229-2038
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