Getting better...

We worked a little before the rain came in this morning. He picked up to the right with no problem. I worked in that direction stopping and starting about 5 times...(more???) with positive reinforcements. Then tried left...again, the stopping game, but not quite as bad...he actually took some stepts in the correct direction so I was able to get him going easier than yesterday. but he was quick to stop. I dropped the neatness of the circle in favor of getting the directions. He ended up hopping over landscape timbers a few times, but we didn't struggle as much. At one point when he started pulling back, he actually raised up on his hind legs about a foot and a half (slowly, like he was waiting for the fall out). I pulled out the whip and made some noise to his right shoulder to get him to move out to the left. Again, some crowding as he moved toward my left shoulder rather than out to the left. Hmm....a few attitude kicks, and he settled in. I stopped him after a couple of good circles in both directions. Then I actually saddled him up. Its frustrating feeling like I'm starting all over again on directions. elbow up, out, give him a chance to respond to the signal before demanding it...yeah, I was heavier on my arms than my legs....(sorry Scott!) We've got a problem now with herd-bound behavior to contend with too. Cowboy loses his focus very easily when Isaac is screeching. Christine is working with him to keep him off the gate (he tore it down the other day...). Oh the DRAMA!

Mixed signals?

Well, I took him on the longeline, and he did good moving to the right, stopping. Moving to left was challenge. My whip is too short to tap his shoulder, and the string is too wild to hit accurately with so I end up flopping it and brushing it around his neck and ankles. Then he pulls back. when I wait for him to step forward and release the pressure, I try to move him at the shoulder again, and he just tries to wait me out. (I win...) When he finally gets going to the left, he goes about half way and stops/turns. I'm wondering if he's(me?) confusing the pull/step of whoa witth the pulling that's happening as he steps to the outside. I had to get a little testy when he wouldn't move out to the left, and when he would finally move, but sort of crowd my space...moving towards my shoulder than moving around me. At one (no two) points, he was pulling back and lifted up his front legs in a pseudo-challenge (?) or am I reading way to much into it?? I got him around to the right and then around to the left (with a few steps I interpreted as "snotty attitude" at the start) before stopping. I did give praise on the good turns and when he finally got what I wanted. Try again tomorrow.

Back from School

Ok, it's been almost two weeks since Cowboy has returned from a month of training. The first time out was exactly a week after returning. I was busy with equine affaire and got him a recommended bit (5"snaffle with 7"shank), a curb chain, and heavier reins, and a shorter blanket. Of course, any free time I had, the weather did not cooperate: cold and raining. So it was a week before I got him out to practice.

The first 15 minutes or so went fine...then he stopped listening. I was working on the trot, bumping him off when he tugged to the outside, and moved up to a lope a few times. I messed up somewhere. He kept taking a step, turning, stopping and backing up. So I wrestled with my patience to wait till he stopped pulling and stepped forward. But its like he forgot the direction signals. After about 45 minutes of , step, stop, turn, back up, wait, step forward, I lost my patience and cracked the whip while he backed up all over the place. I just wanted him to go round successfully before I put him up, and I was already late for work. FINALLY he did it, and I got him around twice and called it quits.

I was feeling stupid, defeated, mad at myself, and wondered if I was all the problem, or was he challenging the new rules at home. I tried to remember Scott's earlier assessment of who was higher on the frustration scale (most likely me, not Cowboy). I don't want the great month of training to go down the toilet because of me! I retrospect, maybe I was trying to do too much at once. I'm still getting the longe part worked out never mind the bumping. Maybe I should have focused on just the direction and forego the form for now.? Pressuring myself...

The next time out was yesterday-almost another week and when I came up with this blog idea to vent, track my experience and h0pefully get feedback. No training halter, just his bridle and the longe line that I hate. He was already distracted with Isaac and Christine nearby eating grass. He did take a few circles, so I kept it short. Moved to the bow. I wasn't prepared, and just ended up backing him up. I went back to get a lead rope, but wasn't sure how to loosely tie it so it would not get stuck on him. I'm still pretty klutzy on the maneuvering, and I've decided I hate my new reins. I did get him to bow three times, but I know my signal was not always clear, and then he started backing up for no reason. I walked him around to break it up, and got him to follow me a little, then he stopped listening. I got on him (yeah, I know, bad move...but I was feeling like a failure) and the new reins were so cumbersome and kept torquing the bit. It wasn't going well. I got off him before it got really bad. Not his fault. But I have to say I was pretty down on myself.

Again in retrospect, I'm rushing for MY sake. My ego keeps regressing to the 6 year old..."I'm never gonna get it," "I just want to RIDE him!" But I want to have some substantial improvements in our communication by the time the ride in May comes up. 4 weeks! I'm considering therapy for myself...