September 21, 2009 – Learning to be polite

Last week's lesson was on accepting treats properly. Rory almost always comes to see me when I go into his field and I usually have a little bit of carrot or something for him. Being a baby he is very focused on the yummy stuff and grabs for it. My horses are trained to check my hands without grabbing and so I spent a couple of days working exclusively on this with Rory. I'd go out into the field 3-4 times during the day and he'd come to see me. I offered him the back of my fist and if he grabbed he'd get bopped on the nose - not hard, but enough to make him back off a little. Then I'd offer the back of my fist again. Repeating the offer/bop until he sniffed or nosed without lips or teeth and backed off on his own at which point I roll my fist over and open the hand to reveal his treat. By the end of the first day he had it figured out. He forgets sometimes and gets lippy if the treat doesn't come fast enough, but he's really understanding the concept.

I scritch him and pick up his least favourite foot as well, then allow him to check my hand for more carrots. He doesn't always get one now. The first day he did, but now he's learning to check because sometimes there really isn't anything there.

He's growing - his joints are freaking huge! I'm used to TBxQH crosses and their finer than WB bones and build. Rory is going to be a very solid horse - but hopefully not too big for me.

I'm not doing a whole lot with him right now. There are a number of other things on my plate, one of which is taking much of my energy and focus. Plus master brat is returning to work and prepping for our first lessons in almost a year. I am riding again, and enjoying the brat very much.