Rico Day 29 #equinecomebackchallenge More mounting work today. Rico still has not given me permission to get up on him but I was able to lay across his back a bit. Im sure that permission point may seem odd to some of you who are not students and clients so Ill explain. I do not consider it my right to get up on Rico but rather look at it as a privilege any time I am on a horse and a supreme act of trust. Among others, Evelyn Hangaii of the Equine Research Institute in CA, has demonstrated that horses can conceptualize. I mentioned in Day 24 about scientists finally acknowledging that animals have consciousness. Now, knowing that horses are feeling, thinking, sentient beings, it is important for me to work with the horse. And, if the horse is really my partner, then he should have a say as to whether or not he wants to participate in something. And, if he says no, I want to respect that. Otherwise, it is not really a partnership in my mind. Of course if his safety or mine is involved, I will take the executive position. This is one reason you often see me work at liberty or with float in the lead rope. I want to give the horse a chance to think through what Im asking. Thats also a benefit of the clicker training (positive reinforcement). Theres something in it for the horse and it is a powerful motivating tool. Rico and I also worked on ground tying and he is staying in place and letting me walk around him now. We ended working with some balloons and flags that I thought may get his attention. I thought wrong but Ill take them out in the breeze tomorrow and see if anything changes. A Home For Every Horse youtu.be/rc84RGjuLos
Posted on: Mon, 25 Aug 2014 01:18:05 +0000
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