Games

:Last night Regalo and I had a good short session.  WE did circling game, the figure 8 until he relaxed and over the trot poles until he was calm.  A little friendlily game and then off with halter and stick to me in the woods.  He went with me until I sent him off to eat.  What a big difference.

Leaving Regalo free to eat

Last couple of nights I have left Regalo free to eat in the woods and left to go eat with Catherine. 
Decided to leave the his pen propped open, so he could go in if he wanted. 

Each time I returned he would come to the fence to meet me and walk back to his pen.

Last night he was eating way in the back and I called him and he came running up to me.  I was so excited to get this from him.

He is getting a Relationship.   Yea!!!

Regalo eats in the woods

Regalo is starting to get more confidence in  being with the herd.  Last night he did some work and then went out to the grass area in front field.  He didn't run around, just put head down and ate.  He was very happy to be out there.

Saturday night I went out with him to do a little round of trot poles and then he went to eat.  Catherine and I decided to go out and eat.  I left him in the back woods eating grass.  Left his gate open to the his pen.  When we came back from eating 2 hours.  He came to the fence when I called him.  I thought I would have to go through the woods looking for him.  He is really amazing.

Regalo joins the herd

Best thing ever I worked with Regalo a little, let him eat grass in the woods and then took him to the arena and let him loose.  He didn't want to go out, but wanted grass, the horses chased him around and he stayed in the arena.  Finally Bentley came in and and herded the other guys away from Regalo and they went running outside.  It was fun to watch them run around.  Regalo is pretty fast. 

Finally he settled outside to eat grass.  I called him and he ran the fence and then came to me and walked in the arena with me.  I was so happy  (happy dance) 

Mantra

I am going to keep a mantra close to me: “this challenge is a gift and will help me grow into the horsewoman I want to be.” Each time a challenge comes my way, I will have a choice. I can move forward with worry and fear or I can move forward with gratitude and love. I am committed to choosing gratitude and love.

Level 2-3 Clinic with Christi

So much to learn.
Desensitizing  3 R's
Rhythm
relaxation
Retreat

Drag tarp, tree limb, noodle,  use the umbrella, ball  anything and do it for 10 times you next see your horse and he will be desensitized.

Taking the stick and string and snapping in down hard around him and in front of him
taking the rope and tossing it over his head and around his body.

4 steps in going forward

Smile with all four cheeks
squeeze
smooch if you please
spank yourself and then the neck of the horse

Hill therapy

3 trot pole in a arc

one jump


go over the ground poles until he relaxed and head is down and he is watching where he goes

this brings the stomach up and rounds the back.  30 days and you see the difference  10 minutes each way.

Put lots of stuff around to make him look at it


Every time you stop let out a big breath and the horse will then learn to stop with the let go of your breathe.

cup the hand and do it all over the body

Animal communicator

Slow is the word for Regalo.  I must slow down with him.  He doesn't like being caught like a predator.
Likes my energy, but doesn't like to be rushed.  He has so much of that from the previous owner.

Wants to trail ride, wants a balanced rider.  Very claustrophobic (this shows in the squeeze game and trailer loading.

Friday i tried to do things he would like, but it was major trauma for him and me.  Doesn't feel safe in the pasture with me and doesn't want to graze with older horses.  He feels safer in the woods alone.

Sunday I spent time just doing the friendly game around his neck and head on his right side.

I was able to put the stick over the front of him and rub between his ears.  He was standing in the wash rack.

Much better day on Sunday.

 

Body language and your horse

http://www.holistichorse.com/pdf/Behavior/the-language-of-equus-energy-and-emotions.pdf

Regalo Playing

Today I went to the barn and Regalo nickered to me and I went to his pen and he ran out to the large pen, then he cam back tome I put several alfalfa cubes in his feed dish.  Then I petted him for a little while showed him the haler and he put his head down and let me halter him.


Hurray for Regalo   He's the Man

Then he went out to eat grass in the woods, he now knows how to move with the lead rope and gets it to the side and moves very quickly around the woods.  Put he does let me get him.

Then we went into the arena and did a couple of things, I groomed him and brought him outside for me to get his grain.  Brought the bucket into the barn area and sat with it between my legs and he ate.

When he was down I worked on the rope up and around his ears, lower the head and just hanging out with me.  He started rolling the feed bucket towards me and I pushed it back to him with my foot, he rolled to back to me and we did this for a long time.  He likes to play and he was very happy to stand there and just hang out with us.

He has come such a long way in 3 1/2 months.   Very proud of him.