Another Milestone :)

I had been feeling a little down. Everyone else is already haltering there horse and leading them around. Some are even riding. I havent even got to touch mine. I had two friends help me out a little bit. I just needed some outside opinions.

First to try him out was Jim Low. Jim and I did the Norco Trail Challenge together last year. We both worked for Jill Starr at Lifesavers Wild Horse Rescue where we taught a few clinics together. I value his opinion A LOT!

When Jim started he had the same issues I did. Cut Across was disconnected and did not want anything to do with him. Jim became interesting :) Cut Across also picked up a new habit. He would turn his butt toward me to avoid looking at me. Jim fixed that! Everytime Cut Across would turn his butt to Jim he would hit him with the stick (telling him that butts are a no no. haha). Eventually Jim was able to get close enough to touch him and convince the horse to smell him.

I had the answers, I just did not trust my judgement. I needed some one else to tell me that what I was doing was the right answer. Then I asked Shaula to see what she thought about him. Again, a lot of what I had already knew Shaula found out. She did have some other interesting things to say about him.

I was not actually there when she played with him, but we talked about it later. She aid he is smart. He is trainable. He is going to be hard now, but once he trusts me it will get easier. When the light bulb goes on we will be in buisness. He was unintersted in her. She had to chase him around. Something new she discovered is that he is ticklish. Really? He is ticklish. haha. He is also going to be the type where I will be able to gentle the back end of him before the frobnt end. Oh my. I have my work cut out for me.

Then today I went out there with my lunge wip and my carrot stick. I was prepped to be out there for an hour, running around the pen. NOPE!! I had to push him around a few times and the I was rubbing his butt with the lunge wip.

I walked away and let him think about it. He licked and chewed right away. I rubbeed him a few more times. Then I moved up to his back. Again, instant lick adnd chew. I eventually moved up to his shoulder. I then laid the rope over his back and it hung over the other side. :) After that I did everything with the carrot stick. Its a little smaller so I was a little closer. The same results, licking and chewing.

Right after I took this picture he turned his head and looked at the stick. He sniffed it and the licked and chewed! WHAT? He was actually interested in something. That is when I left him alone. He was done for the day.

It was great to have two amazing friends help reassure me. I need a little encouragement every now and again.

On a side note: My horse from last year, Kiss That Spot, wore a fly mask for the first time :)

I had a great day with my horses :)

Beth