Headed out after work to Sunbury to check out some saddles. I think I'm more confused than I was before all this! LOL! No I was really just trying them on for size and with the size of my bum that was a good idea. I am looking for something average but OK and to tick boxes until I know what I am doing with Teddy and how things will pan out with him. It seems a wintec is the most likely as they are interchangeable gullets that will help with whatever fit.
After that, when I got home I went out and played with him in the little light that I had left. I can get him to play as long as I don't have a halter in my hand. At one stage he did get fed up with me and walked off. I got him to come back and got him following me in spirals. He was very cute about it. I took out a carrot and tempted him with it but he would not more his feet - trying once again to be the boss - so the more I moved away the more he stretched and stretched that long neck of his and then he went "Nope I'm not budging". When he did I gave him a nibble.
I know some people will say that playing with food isn't the way but I initially had him without it and then I think it was a good tool to keep him engaged.
It was a short and sweet play but positive none-the-less.
Playing with food is fine as long as there are rules and boudaries. Bribes - offering food before the horse has done anything - rarely works. It can even backfire by rewarding the more beligerant behavior.
ReplyDeleteHave you spent any time just being with him? Take a chair and a book and go sit in (or just outside if that's safer) his paddock. Completely ignore him. Just spend undemanding time with him. It's amazing what this can do.
Thanks for the advise Lisa. Yes I have been doing undemanding time as well. It's been raining buckets here (strangely for a country in drought!) so i haven't been able to as much as i would like but I have and will be doing this undemanding time as much as I can.
ReplyDeleteSometimes it's hard to strike a balance. Some horses need to know you love them before they can accept your leadership; others need you to prove your worth before they will hand over their heart. And sometimes it varies on the day.
ReplyDeleteJust don't underestimate the power of "in the moment" undemanding time. It's a *huge* key to causing your horse to care by proving to him how much you care.
Feel free to send some of that rain up to the northern hemisphere - round about southern TN.