Putting Principles to Practices
Approached today with principles in mind: put the relationship first. The goal - build her confidence. How? By watching for thresholds, being particular without being critical.
Being Critical? How does it appear to the horse? To Zaina, maybe: staring at her as she tries; keep asking without waiting; ignoring thresholds.
Set up four cones as a question mark, and the foam pole. She was still worried about being "in the cone zone" so didn't go in, lots of walking around, but also getting her to pay attention to playing "stick to me." MORE particular when she swung away from me at the halt, playing "hide your hiney." Interesting - she did not get emotional when the string hit her hiney, but she did improve her halt, and when she didn't she seemed to understand that she needed to come back and stand beside me!
NICE sideways movement towards the right along the wall. I was more particular about MY directions, stopping the sideways movement and ensuring instead she wasn't going backwards. Also, more persistent.
Back to the question box for lots of approach and small retreats every time her ears went back or she hesitated. Stayed beside her head, slowly slowly she entered the "zone." First she would then walk through fairly quickly but with repeated approaches and retreats, was less emotional. Then the bigger test, sending her into it. Yes, it was okay. Then come to me over the ground pole. More approach and wait wait wait, persistently ask, wait wait wait, ask wait ask wait, her she comes and waits for instructions, all the way over. Then go the other way, comes over and stops with me, relaxed in the zone!
Excellent yo yo into her stall, no hesitation. Happy horse.
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