10

Ah, the misplaced confidence of yesterday. Today was abysmal. Yards. Liberty. 10 minutes. He was already nickering and getting excited when I let him out of the stall. And mugging. Jeez. Followed me over to the tack room. Thought I'd groom him without a halter. He was following the curry comb around, but standing still, like it was a carrot. nickering, grabbing at it (and me). Let him smell it repeatedly. After a while he did stand quietly, but it did take a while.

Wanted to reward him for standing still for a long few seconds while I put the brush away but seeing the bum bag set him off. Lots of evasion and lots of mugging. Did play hide and seek around the water tank which was fun. Tried to c/t when he was aligned (straight along the spine including neck and head) and of course for not mugging. Yesterday, in comparison, he wasn't sweating much. Tonight he was very sweaty.

Attempted to c/t when he was standing still with me beside him but he kept turning towards me. Finally gave up and sat on the stump. The mugging was as bad as it's been; on my head, shoulder, even trying to grab the treat pouch. Eventually was capturing him straight and I c/t'd like mad. Didn't even give him time for an evasion, fed the carrots to him as fast as I could (as long as he was straight). Had some garbled thought that if he's that sexually excited (and he was, kicking at his pizzle) we'll work through it, keep those carrots coming. So it ended on a good note but I can only hope tonight was a form of extinction burst for it bore no resemblance to yesterday's success.

I am trying to be positive. This has to end eventually.