Day 18 – Phil’s Courage’s Journal

Morning feeding: Dan reported feeding went well.

Ground Tying: I think this is really a neat concept. Ground tying gives your horse a say so in the situation. Think about it, if your horse is truly your partner then he will accept bridling, saddling, mounting, etc. by standing still. If your horse moves away from you during any of these activities he is telling you “hey, I’m not ready yet” or “I don’t respect you .” Ground tying is an easy lesson to teach, but it takes time and lots and lots of patience.

Before asking Phil to ground tie I set him up for success. I asked him for a little ground work to warm up his muscles and to get his brain focused on me. It took less than 5 minutes to warm Phil up physically and mentally.

I have been working on ground tying from day one with Phil. Today, I haltered standing on his right side today to mix things up with rope halter/lead and led him (right side) to the round pen. Read more

Day 17 – Phil’s Courage’s Journal

Morning feeding: Phil backed away and let me pour his feed.

As I approached to rub his head he swung his head in circles and danced in place. His body posture told me he was not being aggressive or pushy; he wanted to play. Phil is still very much a colt. This is behavior that needs to be addressed. I am a human; I am not his play buddy. The biggest mistake handlers make, in my opinion, is they think their horse is their buddy and encourage this playful behavior because it “is cute.” It is not cute when a 1200 lb. horse escalates the play behavior by rearing, charging, biting, or kicking. This should not be tolerated! In the herd the Alpha mare does not have a buddy. Sure, she will graze and engage with the other horses, but she does not have a “best friend” or ‘buddy.”  This statement is reflecting a true wild herd. The lower members of the herd buddy up. My goal with Phil is to establish in his mind that there is no doubt I’m the Alpha mare. I didn’t even have to send Phil around the pen, a stern “NO” and raising my hand to block him (kind of like “talk to the hand”) switched his behavior mode immediately.

A little insight: I love my horses. I do not love on them. My horses are not my best friends. Read more

Day 16 – Phil’s Courage’s Journal

Morning feeding: Dan reported no problems with Phil.

After the kids finished their homework we decided to go out on the trails. The kids decided they were going to ride their bikes while walking the dogs. I saw a perfect teaching opportunity and brought Phil along. Phil has a tendency to kick at the dogs or anything moving behind him. I respect Phil’s instinctual behavior however, this is something we will have to work through if he is ever going to foxhunt or be around children and pets. You can just imagine the commotion going on with the kids, bikes, and dogs out on the trail. As soon as Phil locked an ear on a bike or kid I gently tugged on the lead rope to prevent his brain from switching from thinking to instinct (timing is everything). Read more

Day 15 – Phil’s Courage’s Journal

Morning feeding: no problems.

I vaccinated Phil today. When I vaccinate a horse for the first time I am always prepared to do some ground work, or desensitize the horse to the needle. I haltered Phil and he dropped his head right into the halter and I asked him for head down. I pinched his skin on his neck and shook the skin while I injected the vaccine. No problem. I didn’t even hold onto the lead; Phil was ground tied. I administered three injections without any questions from Phil. I had epi with me just in case he had a reaction. Read more

Day 14 – Phil’s Courage’s Journal – RESULTS!!!

Good morning Elizabeth,
I just wanted to give you the “heads up” on Phil’s journal Day 14. Phil and I brought home a Championship in his halter division (halter geldings, showmanship, hunter in hand). I will be sending more entries and pictures if you are ready to receive the journal.
smiles,
Kara Hoefer