JP :>    Mr X is really doing well (and, me too I'm happy to
JP :>advise ). X and I BOTH have settled down to a
JP :>nice "training routine".
Ah!  The operative word...routine!  I really think that helps a lot.
JP :>    You know I've been a bit "in awe" of Mr X since I took
JP :>my spill.  I KNEW in my heart that he wasn't really "bad",
JP :>but my mind played funny tricks on me. If I would ride a
JP :>couple days in a row, I became more confident -- if I
JP :>didn't ride for a few days, then my confidence would fade
JP :>(this only happened with Mr X -- I've been riding Shamazon
JP :>pretty confidentely no matter how much we rode or didn't
JP :>ride).
Totally normal, Jean.  And you're doing the right things.
JP :>    OK .... here's what happened ..... besides Mr X making
JP :>ME a nervous wreck -- I was making HIM a nervous wreck and
JP :>he started with a few bad habits that had gone from bad to
JP :>worse ..... one of which was a little bucky-doodle (nothing
JP :>wild but nonetheless would un-nerve me) and the main thing
JP :>he had starting doing was to kick his right leg back -
JP :>straight out when he got tired of doing something HE didn't
JP :>want to do ...... of course this also un-nerved me and he
JP :>knew it.
You know, we all try to treat our horses with gentleness and respect at all 
times.  However, there ARE times when discipline, swift and severe, is 
necessary in cases where their behavior is dangerous.  And, again, you've 
done the right thing.
JP :>this". I LAID my leg into X's side ........ WHOA..... he
JP :>didn't EXPECT me to do that ...... guess what??  He
JP :>straightened up, went across the bridge like he had been
JP :>doing it all his life.
Just like kids, horses need to be told what to do on occasion (g).
JP :>    Now, I've figured it out ....... he KNEW I would quit
JP :>when I got scared....soooooooo, he would try and put a
JP :>"little scare" into me.  HOWEVER, I figured out that HE was
JP :>NOT going to do anything really bad (nothing that I
JP :>couldn't handle)...... now we have an agreement .... he
JP :>acts right and I don't dig my heel into his side .
Hee!  Smart little horse!!  It's that Arab brain!
JP :>    Tonight we rode again ..... if I lost his attention I
JP :>very slightly applied a little pressure -- I got his
JP :>attention and we had the BEST training session tonight that
JP :>we've had in a long time.......I'm very pleased with BOTH
JP :>of us!!!
Me too!!
Meg  
 
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