Emmy is a Cadillac trail horse. She is rated as a beginning rider and kid horse. She dies not spook, turn and run nor bolt. She goes straight down the trail. If anything major concerns her, she will stop. She has been a saddle-up, get on and ride horse.
I’m borrowing her for the spring and summer.
I’m one of those crazy people that insist on forming a relationship on the ground, doing ground work always before I ride and being able to independently move the front and back parts of the horse’s body. I also love to have my horse backup and come to me. I believe it to be polite to ask for the horse’s permission before I touch the horse.
Emmy knows nothing of my beliefs.
I played with Emmy on the ground today. I forgot that the rope and halter was in the house. We played at liberty in the round pen. Today was the first time she moved her hindquarters from my focus and body language. I did not have to touch her, nor did she leave me. Of course, we did already have a session of running circles, so she was not fresh.
Emmy got tired of running and I asked her to face me about five times. She finally stopped and looked at me. Looking at me is the first step in the connection language.
She got to rest. I came to her and put my closed hand close to her nose. This is “the horseman’s handshake”. I can’t touch her till she touches me. Emmy chose not to touch me. Well, she really doesn’t like me all that much and has no curiosity about my hand. She is a superior creature. Queen Emmy.
I started asking her with body, non-verbal language, to move her hindquarters. Good Lord! She took an approved step with her back legs. This is first time she has done this from my focus. I decide this is the time to get her to come to me. She has to move her hindquarters and I’ll walk away from her. After a while, the horse takes a forward step which is the start of them coming to you.
It Happened. She took a step forward towards me and stopped. We did it again. Our improvement was amazing. I decided she could walk toward me until we got close to the gate. After many one or two steps attempts towards me, we finally made it to the gate. I offered my handshake. She touched me! I petted her and let her out of the gate to the new hay bale! Rewards are understood.
Huge progress!