17

Right. I got all hard with him just now. Lost my temper. Ditched the laudable ideals of c/t. Started badly. Haven't worked with him in two days. Actually started well as I started to groom him and then because he was standing in an awkward place thought I'd put the halter on him so I could place him in the right place for me to work on him. Waited patiently and he turned his head to me for the halter. All very nice. He was nice being groomed until I worked on his off side and then he attempted to nip. Stuck my elbow out and finished. Can't see any reason why he should nip - and he often does from that side.

When finished grooming I removed the halter, strapped on the bag and stepped outside. And he was all over me; pushy, mouthy, yuck. Then he evaded. He was so excited he couldn't bear to be near me. It was a repeat of pushy, evasion, pushy, evasion. Finally he settled a bit and we worked on head down - which he is finally beginning to understand the verbal cue. But there were still lots of evasions - on both sides. I frequently walked away either because he was getting too excited or because of suspecting an evasion was coming on. We did get some nice weight shifts and a couple of step backs when I stepped back (and just as often a walking forward to evade). I was often having to use my elbow as a block to keep his head away from my body.

I went and stood at the entrance to the peach paddock and he eventually joined me. Did some sloppy wwylm interspersed with evasions. I eventually c/t his head down eating evasion because he at least wasn't mobbing me. Then we were walking back to the yards and he just crashed into my space, into ME, with his body. I elbowed him, hard, twice as he went by. And that's when I got mad. Thought why am I being such a wuss and ALLOWING him to mouth/slobber/mash/crash his head into me. I used body pressure then, making myself very big and strong and backed him away when he came towards me. His eyes showed white. He was surprised and not pleased but I didn't care. I was sick of not being respected. The treat machine had revolted. Keep your distance or I'll MAKE you move away. I never touched him again but I must say his behaviour was much better.

I'll have to find my own way with this. We've been working on the mugging for months and just when I think it's getting better it gets, like today, much much worse. Enough. I want to be his friend and someone who is pleasant to be around but I've had enough. Ditto the stallion behaviour. If he respects my space and knows although he will be c/t'd like mad when we're working, he is not to get so sexually excited that he *loses* it. If he knows we're *working*, I suspect - and could be very wrong - that the stallion behaviour will diminish. I think there has to be a balance. So far, it's been all his own way. He has a temper tantrum (pawing, half rears) when the carrots aren't forthcoming and he's got a hard on, but giving him multiple carrots only makes it worse. If there's respect coupled with the game playing and learning perhaps it will work. My walking away when he gets too excited hasn't taught him anything apparently. I'm just a treat dispenser that's moved away. A treat dispenser that says NO when he's disrespectful will still give treats when he settles down and plays the game.

I may regret this tomorrow. I may find this is not a good idea. But for tonight, it is.