There is no way possible to describe the HUGE progress Henry and I made today. I am just so blessed to have a horse that can teach me things while I am out trying to teach him things. It's just an amazing feeling!
It's gorgeous day here today, thankfully. I have been very very stressed lately and a good horse day was much needed. I re introduced the big blue monster, which we have tried to master several times. Today, I thought I would walk out all confident and he would see that there was nothing to be afraid of. I laid it on the ground and tried to lead him over it. AHAHAHA. That was not something Henry thought was going to happen. So we worked on it, he trotted some circles in an attempt to get him to see that what I was asking was the easy way. (Note to self: Lunging Henry backfires everytime!!) All he was doing was working himself up more and gaining more control of the situation. So we stopped doing that. I got him all calmed down and to a place where he would be still and just brought the tarp to him instead. I stood in front of him, facing him like we had to do back in the very beginning and I asked for a step onto the tarp. I was releasing pressure with each step, but he would refuse to place his hind legs on it.
So we moved on to wearing the tarp instead. Now, this is where the guy confuses me. I had that tarp over his back, moved it to his head, blocked his vision with it, rustled with it to make more noise and pulled it off over his head. Henry didn't so much as flinch. Not even a lip quiver. I put it back on and we walked, still it was not a concern for him.
I decided to retry the tarp on the ground, and we were able to make some progress. But here is the best part. Something told me to try something new. I don't even think it was a conscious decision until it hit me what I had changed. I had always tried to talk Henry through things, lots of verbal encouragement and praise. I used the pressure and release method and was nearly tugging on him for every step. And then I quit doing that. I went silent. I stood next to him and simply took a step onto the tarp. No pressure was applied to the lead at all, and what do ya know. He took a step to join me. We had both front feet on the tarp. So I waited. No praise or voice from me. Then I took another step, and he followed. Soon enough he had all 4 on the tarp and was standing there as calm as could be. I was amazed! All I have to do is think it in my head, and ask with quiet body language. Eureka! I gave him a pat, and we turned for the gate.
Henry has always loved his walks. We walk through the neighbors junk yard and find spooky things to smell. He loves it. So today after the tarp and my Aha moment we took another walk and went to meet the cows. You should have seen my boys ears perk up. WOW, they smelled each other and the cows ran off bucking soon to return for round two. I was still keeping my body quiet, no voice or loud movements. I finally figured the quiet body language thing!! Yay me! Anyway, we finished our walk and returned to the big blue monster one more time. We had to renegotiate it again, but in no time flat he was all the way on it! I gave him another pat and told him what a good buy he was and walked away.
I of course never have the camera when something huge like this happens, but I did get this picture from my front door right after we finished.
He stood like this for about 4 to 5 minutes before he decided to resume his lazy Saturday ways.
( Now of course Blogger refuses to upload my pictures! Darn it!)
What a super day!
"Hum, A dog a wheel barrow and a strange Man all at once, nothing spooky here Mom!"
"Yum, birdseed! Lets come back here soon!"
"So this is where you go when you leave me outside. Tonight I'll sleep right in there please. Don't forget to fluff the pillows"
