I am finally passing Captain's Dominance tests!!
I realised that whilst I looked down to keep my feet stable at the extremely muddy slippy gate that Captain took advantage and on too many occasions ran off or ran me over.
So I have enlisted the help of a trainer and my hat and BP.. My BP makes me stand up straight and gives the impression of a good confident stance. I also talk to myself loads and shout "Head Up, Head Up, Steady, Head Up".
So the test are:- 2 days ago I took Captain out to his grazing. He has his own grazing area in a 5 acre space. There is a 30 something pony wandering about loose on the 5 acres. A number of horses and ponies in the field along us and quite often get silly and gallop at the side of us. Which makes Captain dance and prance and run off. So I have learnt how to deal with sending them away and keeping an eye on my monkey. I got through the muddy gated area and turned Captain turned toward me as I shut the gate behind me. As I turned my eye he started to walk toward me. I asked him to back to his standing spot. He wasnt pleased with my assertiveness so started to dance around and pick on 30 something pony. I pushed him back and went in to my routine of back. More strop from Captain so I sent him away on the long lead and made him work in a circle. Once I got his full attention I asked him to stand and wait. He did..Licking and chewing.. We walked gracefully to his grazing and slowly. I gave him a huge ruffle on his forelock and let him go.
The next test was today. I have had him stabled for 2 days as I have been shocked by the total darkness in the mornings when I go up to him before work. I have to admit I was as I thought that the mornings would start to get lighter. So anyway I wont turn a bolshy git out in darkness so he has stayed in his stable. I decided this afternoon that I would turn him out rugged in the light and then he would have all night and tomorrow out and freedom. I expected him to drag me out. But he was an angel. He walked calmy all the way through the gate and the 30 something ponies field. I gave him a stroke all the way and told him how proud I was of him. As we got closer to his gate he started to rush. I asked him to steady and saw the signs of a tantrum coming on so I sent him away and circled him and went into my routine of circle, back and wait. He lowered his head, licked and chewed and I gave him loads of praise. I popped him into his field and let him off.
The other good news is the YO has more people and horses coming onto the yard so finally Captain and I have company. I just hope that someone actually rides their horse... We are now looking forward to Shows. I have seriously got to get my trailer repaired. So fingers crossed I win the lottery soon and get my repairs done..
I realised that whilst I looked down to keep my feet stable at the extremely muddy slippy gate that Captain took advantage and on too many occasions ran off or ran me over.
So I have enlisted the help of a trainer and my hat and BP.. My BP makes me stand up straight and gives the impression of a good confident stance. I also talk to myself loads and shout "Head Up, Head Up, Steady, Head Up".So the test are:- 2 days ago I took Captain out to his grazing. He has his own grazing area in a 5 acre space. There is a 30 something pony wandering about loose on the 5 acres. A number of horses and ponies in the field along us and quite often get silly and gallop at the side of us. Which makes Captain dance and prance and run off.
So I have learnt how to deal with sending them away and keeping an eye on my monkey. I got through the muddy gated area and turned Captain turned toward me as I shut the gate behind me. As I turned my eye he started to walk toward me. I asked him to back to his standing spot. He wasnt pleased with my assertiveness so started to dance around and pick on 30 something pony. I pushed him back and went in to my routine of back. More strop from Captain so I sent him away on the long lead and made him work in a circle. Once I got his full attention I asked him to stand and wait. He did..Licking and chewing.. We walked gracefully to his grazing and slowly. I gave him a huge ruffle on his forelock and let him go. The next test was today. I have had him stabled for 2 days as I have been shocked by the total darkness in the mornings when I go up to him before work. I have to admit I was
as I thought that the mornings would start to get lighter. So anyway I wont turn a bolshy git out in darkness so he has stayed in his stable. I decided this afternoon that I would turn him out rugged in the light and then he would have all night and tomorrow out and freedom. I expected him to drag me out. But he was an angel. He walked calmy all the way through the gate and the 30 something ponies field. I gave him a stroke all the way and told him how proud I was of him. As we got closer to his gate he started to rush. I asked him to steady and saw the signs of a tantrum coming on so I sent him away and circled him and went into my routine of circle, back and wait. He lowered his head, licked and chewed and I gave him loads of praise. I popped him into his field and let him off. The other good news is the YO has more people and horses coming onto the yard so finally Captain and I have company. I just hope that someone actually rides their horse...
We are now looking forward to Shows. I have seriously got to get my trailer repaired. So fingers crossed I win the lottery soon and get my repairs done..
