2

I'm going to number these sessions in the title even though I've done work with him before and written about it in the other blog. Numbering them will give me an accurate account of how much work I've really put into it.

So, tonight. 15 minutes. Very windy. Storms to the south and east but none, alas, on us (we need the rain). I put a circle of bricks in the peach paddock to approximate a circle. Thought I'd work on the why would you leave me exercise (wwylm). So, for the first time in a while we worked with a halter. I needed him with me, not nicking off to be with the other horses (not that he has) or wandering off too far (which he has done). Started to the left, clicking, then halting and treating as we walked to there from the yards. It worked okay. He started to stay with me but he was too close. The lead was in my right hand and I was reaching across with my left to try and get his head in the right position. After awhile he was staying with me but there were two problems, one, he was too close, his shoulder right behind me when nearest the yards (and the horses) and as he got more sexually excited that didn't feel safe. I'd take a break. The other problem was the circle was elliptical. Too close to me when we were on the opposite side of the circle from the yards, too far away when we were nearest the yards.

The main thing is the sexual excitement. He was kicking at his pizzle and doing those little almost rears that I find so intimidating; arched neck, nickering, all the signs of a stallion meeting a mare. I need to slow things down before they get to that point. I did spend alot of time c/ting for staying away from me on the far end of the lead. C/t'd for staying there, c/t'd for head straight, c't'd for head lowering. The head lowering was only at the end of my supply of carrots. I think he was just starting to get it.

As Alexandra Kurland (AK) says, I need to prioritize. I clicked for head lowering (#2), staying away (#1), and head straight (#3). We spent a far amount of time doing this and it was the best part of the session. It was good to see him standing quietly at the end of the lead. A couple of times he did come in to me for a mug but his mugging attempts lack conviction. He soon gives them up.

The other thing I need to do is leave enough carrots in the bag to get us back to the yards in a mindful manner. I ran out and then had to use my hand holding the lead rope as a barrier between us. I'm looking forward to him working with me, looking for something he might do which will earn him a treat. I think the sexual excitement puts him off so it is very important in future sessions (even though I can't prevent him from 'droppping') to back off when it gets too much.