Junior's Attitude


© Gwenyth Browning Jones Santagate
Articles in this Topic    Discussions in this Topic
Page 2

I would tie a white plastic grocery bag on the end of a long, 4' stiff dressage whip and use the bag to get Junior to move AWAY from you. Be very judicious in just how much pressure you use waving that bag around - you'll be VERY surprised at how quickly Junior is going to take off AWAY from you! You also want to be instantaneous to let off the pressure when he does what you ask. If he aggresses you, I'd make him move his little feet furiously for a round or two until you see that he is sufficiently brain-engaged as to just whom is the true "leader" aka "MOM" and boss. Watch his eyes ... "a blinking horse is a thinking horse" ... when he starts to blinking, let him continue for another round and then back off the pressure and tell him he's the BEST little boy in the whole wide world! Let him rest and think on all this for a moment or two and then ask him to move off again, quietly and respectfully. You'll have an attitude of, "OK, son. Now I want you to walk forward quietly so I don't have to get on your behind again. Be a GOOD boy! and move forward" ... Ask, tell, enforce. He gets 2 chances to move off and on the 3rd time you have to enforce, use your flag, Girl! Don't "beg" him to move off, pleeeeeeeeeeeeezzzzzzzeeeee!!! You say, "ExCUSE me, Son, but I asked you to MOVE ... now GET YOUR BUTT IN GEAR!" No aggression but plenty of assertiveness.

Horses are hard-wired to know the "intent" of their environment and the critters around them. We have the responsibility to make our "intent" clear to the horse so as not to cause any misunderstandings or confusion. Our intent means that we EXPECT the horse to move when we ask and if it doesn't then we EXPECT to have to ASSERT our authority and make the horse move -- in the direction and speed that we want. Have your body language cues consistent and clear. Have your intent clear. Hold no grudges and be willing to help and encourage before enforcing.

And THEN ... remember that he's just a yearling and this process is not going to "stick" until he's at LEAST 3 or 4 years old. Then, as if by magic, you'll see, feel, taste, hear the attitude change as the horse matures. It'll be THERE!! And you'll have a perfect gentleman on your hands.

Go To Page: 1 2 3


Post this Article to facebook Add this Article to del.icio.us! Digg this Article furl this Article Add this Article to Reddit Add this Article to Technorati Add this Article to Newsvine Add this Article to Windows Live Add this Article to Yahoo Add this Article to StumbleUpon Add this Article to BlinkLists Add this Article to Spurl Add this Article to Google Add this Article to Ask Add this Article to Squidoo