Archive for month: April, 2008

16Apr 2008 0 Comments

Day 11 – Phil’s Courage’s Journal

Categories: Correcting Bad Behavior, Ground Training, Phil's Courage - Tags:

Morning feeding: All the horses around the barn where a little excitable this morning. They all had a very interesting night. One of our mares foaled last night. Phil could not see the event from his pen, but he felt the excitement from all the other horses.

I led Phil to the pasture to see the new foal. This was a great opportunity to once again practice haltering, leading, going through gates, and exposing Phil to a new situation. You may think horses recognize foals as their own kind, however it is amazing to see the reaction of a horse that has not been exposed to foals become frightened. Phil was absolutely mesmerized by the filly. It was interesting to see Momma tell Phil to back off from across the paddock.

Evening feeding: uneventful

15Apr 2008 0 Comments

Day 10 – Phil’s Courage’s Journal – Tying

Categories: Correcting Bad Behavior, Ground Training, Phil's Courage - Tags: ,

Morning feeding: Phil was more alert this morning. His feet were feeling a little better. The digital pulse was normal.

Today’s lesson: Tying

This morning I tacked Phil up with a heavy roping saddle. Phil was unconcerned about the saddle, so I did not have to desensitize him to the saddle. I did not “tip toe” around Phil, just because he has never had such a big, heavy saddle on his back. If I was concerned, then Phil would feel he needed to be concerned. I was respectful not to just plop the saddle on his back. I checked for fit and tightened the cinch only tight enough to hold the saddle in place. Phil was “girthy”. He sank to his knees as I gently tightened the girth. Read more

14Apr 2008 0 Comments

Day 9 – Phil’s Courage’s Journal

Categories: Correcting Bad Behavior, Ground Training, Phil's Courage - Tags:

Morning feeding: Dan fed this morning. He reported Phil stayed out of his space, but he tried to evade the head rub. Dan stood his ground and would not let Phil eat until he submitted to a head rub. Note that the SAME routine and SAME requests are followed at every meal. It would not be fair to Phil if we changed the rules.

I returned from work and brought Phil his lunch time hay. I checked his sore feet for heat and a digital pulse. He does have a strong pulse on both front legs, but it was not racing. The vet is scheduled to come out tomorrow to float teeth and draw Coggins. I’ll have her evaluate Phil and ask her if it is ok to paint Venice Turpentine on his soles. It would be a shame if Phil could not go barefoot on our soft, sandy soil. I haltered Phil using this opportunity to practice polite haltering and show Phil that the halter does not always equal work. I petted and rubbed Phil all over (especially ears and under tail) to put my scent on him and simulate his Dam rubbing on him. I took the halter off (used head down cue) and left him to eat his hay. Even though I did not take Phil out of his pen, we had a team building session. Read more

13Apr 2008 0 Comments

Day 8 – Phil’s Courage’s Journal

Categories: Correcting Bad Behavior, Ground Training, Phil's Courage - Tags:

Morning feeding: When I pour feed I keep Phil in my peripheral view so I can keep tabs on his position, his ears, and his eyes. This morning he tried to inch his way into my 16 foot feeding “bubble.” Every move he made forward I kicked a little bit of dirt at him to warn him to back away. He was testing me to see if I was still going to hold up to my end of the bargain. To the novice eye this behavior seems harmless and even “cute”, but at this stage of the learning process “if you give an inch, they’ll take a mile.” If I would have ignored Phil’s “test” I would have given him proof that I am not worthy to be a leader. I know all of this sounds so “nit-picky”, however these are the building blocks to a trusting partnership with your horse. You have to work as hard or harder than he does. Read more

12Apr 2008 Comments
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Day 7 – Phil’s Courage’s Journal

Categories: Correcting Bad Behavior, Ground Training, Phil's Courage - Tags:

Morning routine was completed: food was poured; I claimed the food dish and the space around it, rubbed Phil’s head, and let him follow me to the food.

The farrier arrived at 8am. Phil’s front shoes were pulled. Phil has a little bit of a seedy toe on his left front. I will keep a close eye on this and keep him out of the wet as much as possible. The soil here is sandy so I’m going to let Phil go barefoot.

At lunchtime, I went to go get Phil to take him to the arena to mow the lawn some more. He didn’t acknowledge (with both eyes) me. Read more

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