Post by Deleted on Aug 24, 2007 15:15:30 GMT 1
Poles (no, not jump poles as someone this morning thought!), sticks or whatever, are really useful in bridging that vital gap between "I simply don't think so" and "hmmm, ok, maybe" in the horse's mind. Not only do you have that all important safety, you can also start to desensitise the horse without really invading his space.
Firstly, yes, there probably are associations with sticks that aren't quite so pleasant. However, by advancing and retreating with the pole, you can amazingly quickly "prove" to the horse that this pole is ok. Zorelle wasn't totally convinced by this long blue thing to start off with, but she soon started to accept it at quite close quarters because every time she stopped and turned to look at it, it ran away! It didn't hurt her, it didn't keep pressing, and as long as she didn't run, it didn't even chase her.
There is, then, that huge leap to it actually touching her. What she thought of that:
If that was your arm, you would have no option but a) back off quickly or b) get hurt. With the pole, you can hold it there, let the pole get kicked, prove that kicking gets nowhere, then release when she stands still. Once she'd got over that and realised that the pole touching her rump wasn't going to hurt her, she began to accept it and, again with advance and retreat, I could expand her area of acceptance.
From there, you can gradually work your way closer to her and also desensitise to touch, expanding the area that you can go into. Her withers were fine, in front of her chest is still hard for her. My objective over the next day or two is to work with the pole to desenstise her chest and under her head, mixed in with getting closer and closer. In other words, I'm working towards being able to just calmly walk in and clip on a line. Today we were working with the pole shortened already, really just using that one section, so we're getting there.
Interestingly, for the last couple of minutes when Jo was working with her, we tried taking the pole away to see how far she would accept with just the hand. No where near as close. She knows that pole now, knows it won't hurt her (in fact, maybe that wither scratch isn't too bad?). So, in total we've spent maybe 3 hours in the pen with her so far and look how far we've come.
She so very badly wants not to be scared. There is more fear to come, that first human touch is massive, but I think she is now understanding that we are actually ok. I just walked through her paddock and, for the first time, she didn't even look up at me.
Did I say I love this sort of stuff? Sorry if I'm getting boring but I find it so interesting and just assume everyone else does too. Tell me to shut up if you like. XXX
Firstly, yes, there probably are associations with sticks that aren't quite so pleasant. However, by advancing and retreating with the pole, you can amazingly quickly "prove" to the horse that this pole is ok. Zorelle wasn't totally convinced by this long blue thing to start off with, but she soon started to accept it at quite close quarters because every time she stopped and turned to look at it, it ran away! It didn't hurt her, it didn't keep pressing, and as long as she didn't run, it didn't even chase her.
There is, then, that huge leap to it actually touching her. What she thought of that:
If that was your arm, you would have no option but a) back off quickly or b) get hurt. With the pole, you can hold it there, let the pole get kicked, prove that kicking gets nowhere, then release when she stands still. Once she'd got over that and realised that the pole touching her rump wasn't going to hurt her, she began to accept it and, again with advance and retreat, I could expand her area of acceptance.
From there, you can gradually work your way closer to her and also desensitise to touch, expanding the area that you can go into. Her withers were fine, in front of her chest is still hard for her. My objective over the next day or two is to work with the pole to desenstise her chest and under her head, mixed in with getting closer and closer. In other words, I'm working towards being able to just calmly walk in and clip on a line. Today we were working with the pole shortened already, really just using that one section, so we're getting there.
Interestingly, for the last couple of minutes when Jo was working with her, we tried taking the pole away to see how far she would accept with just the hand. No where near as close. She knows that pole now, knows it won't hurt her (in fact, maybe that wither scratch isn't too bad?). So, in total we've spent maybe 3 hours in the pen with her so far and look how far we've come.
She so very badly wants not to be scared. There is more fear to come, that first human touch is massive, but I think she is now understanding that we are actually ok. I just walked through her paddock and, for the first time, she didn't even look up at me.
Did I say I love this sort of stuff? Sorry if I'm getting boring but I find it so interesting and just assume everyone else does too. Tell me to shut up if you like. XXX