Connecting with your Horse

1. When you're working with a horse, watch him CLOSELY for ANY signs of being very uncomfortable or scared. Don't try to "chase" him in the RP - merely try to stay *with* him. Use no more pressure than it takes for him to walk around or trot quietly. If he takes off right away into a mad dash, just stay in the center and let him go around you or slowly and quietly stay with him at a good distance - enough to let him know that you aren't going to eat him but that you *do* want him to move his feet forward.

You want to be at about a 30 degree angle in back of his shoulder. Watch his ears - if his ears start to focus on you, GOOD! Back off and give him a bit of rest for a minute or so ... let off on the pressure. Then step forward and quietly ask him to move forward again. Watch the ear again - repeat the slacking off of pressure. He will start to wonder if you're really as scary as he first thought you were! If he decides to stop on his own to face you, quietly "kiss" at him and ask him to move forward again. Don't let him stop until *you* take off the pressure. Make sense?

The whole purpose of the round pen is to move the feet and direct them they way *you* want - not the way *he* wants. Again, this doesn't mean chasing him around so he gets tired enough to stand - that's not the point. The point is to establish *your* leadership in a calm, quiet, assertive but gentle manner. Get to his feet and you capture his mind.

Do a couple of "laps" in one direction then step forward in front of his shoulder so he turns around. Doesn't matter if he turns butt to you or to the outside right now - just want him to turn. Let him go a couple of laps in this direction then ask him to turn again. Won't take long before you can ask him to stop by releasing the pressure and you'll have his full attention with both ears and both eyes. Watch his body language carefully after this. Shortly after he stops and faces you, ask him to move off again. You should see a few signs of his relaxing by now. Don't hurry the proceedure. Just keep him moving his feet. Once he starts to lower his head, you've about got him! He may or may not do some full blown licking and chewing ... but when you see that licking and chewing, back off! Release the pressure, let him stop then quietly approach him. If he lets you, approach, scritch his forehead softly then retreat and call it a day. If he begins to move off upon your approach, that's OK, too ... that just means he's still not quite sure of you. Direct his feet again ... forward, change direction, stop. Try approach again ... Keep in mind that you don't want to pressure him past *his* line of safety/sanity AND remember to REWARD his "tries" -- help him; don't just leave him to figure this all out by himself. Once you can approach him a couple of times without him moving off, gently cup his chin and walk in an arc to the right or left, asking him to follow. If he doesn't, that's OK - start with moving the feet again and repeat the approach and follow.

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