Post by Deleted on Jan 3, 2011 16:27:11 GMT 1
For the last week I've been sitting on Talin, doing loads of getting on and off both sides to really get him to chill out and it's worked wonders, he now parks himself next to the mounting block for me 
Since that went so well I decided to start to tackle his hatred of leg contact which I've never really had much success with before (even the lightest touch makes him tense his barrel and round his back and then if you don't heed the warning he broncs you off). I put TTouch wraps (a bit like bandages really) round his belly so they protected his sides a bit from my legs, then asked him to stand with my voice whilst ever so gently touching his side wih my leg, then giving massive rewards for the stand. It took him a few repetitions each day and a few days but he's now standing totally relaxed with no tensing up when I touch him with my leg ;D
My TTouch lady came to see us and she said she thinks he's now at a stage where he's wanting to get on with it and do stuff. So yesterday after I'd got on and done a bit of practice with brushing my legs on his sides, we went for a walk up the track next to our fields. He was great, when we got to the end and turned back he kept trying to turn away from home like he wanted to keep going. I couldn't as I'd told the others I'd be back and didn't want to send them into a panic.
So today we went for our first solo hack!!!
We just walked but he strode out confidently, not a worry in the world. On the way back he got all silly and excited and wanted to have a hooly around but I asked him not to (y'know cantering on our first hack on a horse known to bronc - I think not!!) and he was a star - he stopped and I made a big fuss of him then we walked on calmly and about 5 mins from home I jumped off to give him a big fuss and reward. He couldn't have been more relaxed or well behaved and I'm SO proud!!
Since that went so well I decided to start to tackle his hatred of leg contact which I've never really had much success with before (even the lightest touch makes him tense his barrel and round his back and then if you don't heed the warning he broncs you off). I put TTouch wraps (a bit like bandages really) round his belly so they protected his sides a bit from my legs, then asked him to stand with my voice whilst ever so gently touching his side wih my leg, then giving massive rewards for the stand. It took him a few repetitions each day and a few days but he's now standing totally relaxed with no tensing up when I touch him with my leg ;D
My TTouch lady came to see us and she said she thinks he's now at a stage where he's wanting to get on with it and do stuff. So yesterday after I'd got on and done a bit of practice with brushing my legs on his sides, we went for a walk up the track next to our fields. He was great, when we got to the end and turned back he kept trying to turn away from home like he wanted to keep going. I couldn't as I'd told the others I'd be back and didn't want to send them into a panic.
So today we went for our first solo hack!!!
We just walked but he strode out confidently, not a worry in the world. On the way back he got all silly and excited and wanted to have a hooly around but I asked him not to (y'know cantering on our first hack on a horse known to bronc - I think not!!) and he was a star - he stopped and I made a big fuss of him then we walked on calmly and about 5 mins from home I jumped off to give him a big fuss and reward. He couldn't have been more relaxed or well behaved and I'm SO proud!!
