Adance And Retreat Worked For Me

[julz]

Just a little story..

It was worming day, and a newish sharer of another liveries horse (that I know quite well) was asked to administer the wormer. Not really knowing how to do it, and had been given the warning that you only get one chance with him, she fluffed it up... (poor lassie) so she asked me to give to him.... try anyway...

so, without thinking, I took his leadrope (they were in the starvy paddock on the outside to the feild) led him away. stopped, stroked his neck. Led him away. stopped, stroked his neck. Led away, stopped stroked his cheek, carried on doing this, leading, stopping, touching, until I could touch his face... then concentrated on getting him used to having my hadn/or the wormer tube on his muzzle without chucking his head up in air.. when he was more relaxed, started to put my finger in his mouth the way a syringe would go in... until again he was happy with my doing that..... evenmanaged to tickle a tooth .. then when h was fiannly really not bothered about my finger going in, i popped the wormer syringe in and pressed the plunger.... it was all over before he realised.

He gave me the dirtiest look ever..before calmly walking away to re-join his pals, and tell them what a horrible person I was, lol

I feel proud that I have learnt something from Monty's demo's and to have been involved ina situation where I could help.

It's worming day again on 23rd August. Will see what happens then

[Yann]

Good work The beauty of this stuff is that it's so simple and can be applied to so many different situations

[laura]

well done ... everyone comes out of it without stress as well.

The sharer will have learned a valuable lesson from observing your reaction too

[mandal]

Nice one Julz well done. It's good this stuff innit!! I remember trying to bribe Sophie with a syringe of liquidized apple...she spat it out and looked at me with disgust! Plain old A and R worked much better. ;D

[julz]

Yeah.. the sharer came over (wish she hadnt, but there you go) and asked if i needed her to hold him, told her i was ok, but she could stay and observe.... hadnt realised she'd looked away at the crucial moment, so she missed it..but..... she was well impressed!!

[Casper]

The horse must have heaved a sigh of relief that someone was finally prepared to communicate in a language which he understood. Well done you Julz xx

[julz]

But everytime this horse is wormed, most of it goes over the wall, or the person doing it.. his owner was at Monty's demo lastyear, as was I (her first, my second) it's not rocket science... she has done nothing to prepare him for the next dose.. he's not mine, i helped out because I was asked too... if she asks again I will, but owner reckons she can manage it in the way she always does... we will see.. Im not being nasty to her, I like her and the horse, but why be prepared for a fight when there's no need??

[Yann]

This is such a common scenario unfortunately, and there really isn't much you can do about it, the will has to be there.

[rj]

Keep on showing the way. One day their eyes will open, and in the meantime you're doing what you know is right.
They may realise the 'quick' way isn't quite as quick or effective as they thought!

[julz]

UPDATE

It was worming day last Saturday. The same girl who fluffed it up last time was asked to do it again this time, and she did some advance and retreat wtih him before actually worming him.... he responded the same way and let her do it..... no problems no fuss. ;D ;D

[Casper]

Perfect!

[julz]

Im so proud of her!! she listend to him (and me).. copied and got it right!! ;D ;D

[rj]

Excellent - every right to be proud. It's just a small beginning for this person, but she will probably be more open to further changes in the future.

[julz]

she wants to come to the G'eagles demo this year!!

apparently Horse had his head as high as poss..in the "no, you dont" routine then after she'd done some A&R he dropped his head as far as it would go, and she popped it in...

[newimage]

Well done Julz! At least there are people out there that are willing to learn from watching others, and the word is spreading!!!