I learned that cell phones and weanlings don't mix tonight. I'm on call, and naturally got called as I was walking Rory along the road. I turned back up the driveway and answered it. First mistake - I kept walking.
Rory got a little quick as we walked up the driveway and the other horses came to see him. Second mistake - I kept walking. And the little (getting big now) broke to a trot and the horses bolted, kicking up their heels and Rory pulled harder.
I tried to grab the rope with my cell occupied hand but he got going too fast and I had to let go again. Crap! He ran up the driveway and round to his paddock gate just as he had last time. If I'd had both hands free I could have stopped him.
After collecting him we went for a short walk partway down the driveway and back. On the way back he tried to bolt again, but I snubbed the rope on a fence post (two hands) and stopped him before he really got rolling. Then we walked nicely back to the paddock where he got a scratch and some carrot.
On the way home I decided we'd better nix the driveway walks for now, or keep them very short. But I really think we'll be better off practicing some walking manners and yielding in the arena where he's got nowhere to go should he try to escape. And I need to take him out for practice more often.
Rory got a little quick as we walked up the driveway and the other horses came to see him. Second mistake - I kept walking. And the little (getting big now) broke to a trot and the horses bolted, kicking up their heels and Rory pulled harder.
I tried to grab the rope with my cell occupied hand but he got going too fast and I had to let go again. Crap! He ran up the driveway and round to his paddock gate just as he had last time. If I'd had both hands free I could have stopped him.
After collecting him we went for a short walk partway down the driveway and back. On the way back he tried to bolt again, but I snubbed the rope on a fence post (two hands) and stopped him before he really got rolling. Then we walked nicely back to the paddock where he got a scratch and some carrot.
On the way home I decided we'd better nix the driveway walks for now, or keep them very short. But I really think we'll be better off practicing some walking manners and yielding in the arena where he's got nowhere to go should he try to escape. And I need to take him out for practice more often.
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