#41 - My horse ate my homework!

Teddy was a little better to catch today but it still took a good minute. After he was brushed up all pretty and pampered we did some ground work and went through the following:

• Protecting my person space - for a horse who didn't want a bar of me now he wants to be right beside me so we need to work on getting some distance. But its sweet so not that big of a deal
  
• Desensitizing - A+
• Yield forward direct feel - could do some work on this as he has gone to coming without being asked. I can no longer get him to stand there so I can back up. If I back up he follows. So we have gone from one extreme to another. In the end I can use my finger and just gesture him forward and he comes
• Yield forward indirect feel - 3rd go at this and he does it really well but he doesn't seem to like it as he is swishing his tail about all the time. Not quite sure why he has a problem with it.
• Yield backward direct feel - He or I am crap at this. I think I must be touching the wrong spot on his nose because he couldn't care less no matter what pressure is placed on his nose. He will shrug my hand, just stand there and even yawn but it takes ages to get a single step backward. Time to take another look at this method
• Yield backward indirect feel - He is doing well at this
• Lateral flexion - A+ and its so cute!
• Lead serpentine offside - I need to buy markers still so am doing this without them and he is still doing well. A little way to go for both sides and when I actually use markers.
  
• Stop & backup while leading from side - I cant get the backup but the rest is fine. Once again I think this is me not him.

All in all it was a good session though the fact that Teddy took the flash cards I had made from my hand and started to chew on them is a good clue of what he thinks of all this! The most important thing is he now has soft eyes most of the time and I am wrapped about that. He's relaxed at last.