RBI

Z was RBI again today. Played on line inside, because of cold rain.  Set up two pylons (figure 8 at walk),
tarp (touch with feet)
deck planters, with foam ground pole (squeeze)
ball (touch it)

Was very interested in touching ball, confident RBI, and even moved it the tiniest bit with her nose. Was NOT at all interested in touching it with her legs, danced around it.
Interested in tarp, touched it confidently with front feet. Took a number of visits around it, before walked over it, but ears were back, UNTIL 45 minutes later, when food was in her stall, she walked over it confidently, ears forward.

Pretty confident walking figure 8 around pylons. I gave her praise when she came to me on return, before sending her again.

Would not go over ground pole. Moved it away, and opened up space between planters. Still unconfidant. Started to go internal, so I retreated and did other tasks. Never became confidant today with this game.

New touch it game, front feet on first step of mounting block. Was un-confident doing it on own, but okay when I lifted her leg, even allowing me to lead her by left leg to get to it when she ended up too far away. 

Played at liberty, stick to me, difficult because she wanted to go to her stall, but was able to go partway down wall away from gate. Then she left for the gate, LBE, head tossing, but that's okay.  Did lead by mane, ear and forelock, all developing well. Shaping Z is easy if I release at the SLIGHTEST try, meaning I have to feel for the try when she thinks about it. She was really floored by my not releasing her ear or mane when she walked back to the gate, and gave immediately after that! Polite and passive persistence in the proper position works, although I'm not sure I was polite enough with her ear, have to make sure I don't make her ear-shy.

Have been puzzled by the unconfident RBI today again. Maybe its the darkest before the dawn part. Maybe she's testing to see if I'll make her do things. Maybe I'm asking too much (ie., too many tasks). After reading through some of the savvy club horsemanship Q&As, next time I'll only do one task. Will do a pattern (figure 8, remembering to do it with a circle change of direction so her bad eye isn't toward me), and will do it 7 times, then quit. Then next time will do a different pattern, maybe the weave, 7 times then quit.

I'm also going to create a horsenality diagram to keep track of what she displays each time. Should be interesting.