Post by Calaminty Jane on Apr 5, 2011 8:13:33 GMT -5
Hi All,
On Saturday, I spent a little time with a gal I recently met. Michaela was
having a few issues with her horse that were making her feel unsafe. The
first thing I noticed was that her horse seemed to be somewhat on guard. As
we have discussed many times, horses will do this when they are unsure. We
often assume they know what we expect because it is something we have asked
for many times. I found this little mare, Skip, eager to be compliant when
direction was clear. I shared my belief with Michaela that "How you catch
your horse- Halter your horse and Lead your horse" are 3 of the 4 most
important things you will do with your horse. The 4th being how we leave our
horse. We spent our time explaining to Skip how we would like her to catch
us and how to participate in the haltering process. The hardest part was
explaining how to have her halter softly removed and to wait until we leave
her.
It made me smile when I received this email the following day. Read from
the bottom up.
Sent: Sunday, April 03, 2011 11:12 PM
To: Carol Ross
Subject: Re: Skip
Share away. It really was something else. I've been thinking about it all
day trying to figure out why she was so relaxed and I figured it out. It's
because she wasn't confused. She knew what I wanted her to do. "Is that
all?" she said. "oh yeah, I can do that" she said.
Crazy.
On Apr 3, 2011, at 6:51 PM, "Carol Ross" <dross03@charter.net> wrote:
Hi Michaela,
I am so pleased for you and Skip. Do you mind if I share your email with the
group?? You have an amazing understanding of the concepts and principals
that take most quite a long time to get. Good Job!!!
Sent: Sunday, April 03, 2011 3:39 PM
To: Carol Ross
Subject: Skip
Well now I don't know what to say. I went over to the barn earlier this
afternoon armed with a 3 hour window and a plan to halter and unhalter her
in the proper form. When I got there she was in the paddock about 15 feet
away. I was a little 2 far out with the halter in hand I slapped my thigh
and she walked right over. I raised my hand she dropped her head. It was a
little too high still so I put my hand on her head and barely touched her
she dropped her head. I started reaching over her head with one hand she
turned her head towards me and dropped her nose in the halter. I was
completely amazed. Good girl, rub, rub. She followed me when I led her out
into the paddock.
Gently asked her to back up and she did. Right away. Drew her to me, open
hand on rope and she came. Backed her up and she did. So I took her back
into the stall to take the halter off and see how that went and she dropped
her head, I unhooked the halter, her head didn't move at all. Perfect. I
really didn't have any other plan besides haltering. Trying to do just a
little bit and do it successfully and I did. Just like that. After I took
the halter off she just stood there, me rubbing her shoulder. She didn't
even walk away. The whole thing was totally bizarre. Tonight I will watch
the DVD so I have something to work on next time. Tomorrow morning I will
try the haltering thing again and see if I can repeat it.
A little lightbulb went on for me today. Apparently I have been yelling at
this horse (figuratively speaking) and all I really had to do is whisper.
She just doesn't know what I want her to do. When she didn'tunderstand my
explanation I just got louder
On Saturday, I spent a little time with a gal I recently met. Michaela was
having a few issues with her horse that were making her feel unsafe. The
first thing I noticed was that her horse seemed to be somewhat on guard. As
we have discussed many times, horses will do this when they are unsure. We
often assume they know what we expect because it is something we have asked
for many times. I found this little mare, Skip, eager to be compliant when
direction was clear. I shared my belief with Michaela that "How you catch
your horse- Halter your horse and Lead your horse" are 3 of the 4 most
important things you will do with your horse. The 4th being how we leave our
horse. We spent our time explaining to Skip how we would like her to catch
us and how to participate in the haltering process. The hardest part was
explaining how to have her halter softly removed and to wait until we leave
her.
It made me smile when I received this email the following day. Read from
the bottom up.
Sent: Sunday, April 03, 2011 11:12 PM
To: Carol Ross
Subject: Re: Skip
Share away. It really was something else. I've been thinking about it all
day trying to figure out why she was so relaxed and I figured it out. It's
because she wasn't confused. She knew what I wanted her to do. "Is that
all?" she said. "oh yeah, I can do that" she said.
Crazy.
On Apr 3, 2011, at 6:51 PM, "Carol Ross" <dross03@charter.net> wrote:
Hi Michaela,
I am so pleased for you and Skip. Do you mind if I share your email with the
group?? You have an amazing understanding of the concepts and principals
that take most quite a long time to get. Good Job!!!
Sent: Sunday, April 03, 2011 3:39 PM
To: Carol Ross
Subject: Skip
Well now I don't know what to say. I went over to the barn earlier this
afternoon armed with a 3 hour window and a plan to halter and unhalter her
in the proper form. When I got there she was in the paddock about 15 feet
away. I was a little 2 far out with the halter in hand I slapped my thigh
and she walked right over. I raised my hand she dropped her head. It was a
little too high still so I put my hand on her head and barely touched her
she dropped her head. I started reaching over her head with one hand she
turned her head towards me and dropped her nose in the halter. I was
completely amazed. Good girl, rub, rub. She followed me when I led her out
into the paddock.
Gently asked her to back up and she did. Right away. Drew her to me, open
hand on rope and she came. Backed her up and she did. So I took her back
into the stall to take the halter off and see how that went and she dropped
her head, I unhooked the halter, her head didn't move at all. Perfect. I
really didn't have any other plan besides haltering. Trying to do just a
little bit and do it successfully and I did. Just like that. After I took
the halter off she just stood there, me rubbing her shoulder. She didn't
even walk away. The whole thing was totally bizarre. Tonight I will watch
the DVD so I have something to work on next time. Tomorrow morning I will
try the haltering thing again and see if I can repeat it.
A little lightbulb went on for me today. Apparently I have been yelling at
this horse (figuratively speaking) and all I really had to do is whisper.
She just doesn't know what I want her to do. When she didn'tunderstand my
explanation I just got louder