Re: RC: separation anxiety--training problem

[CAROL HEARD <carolheard@mcsi.net>]

Going to have to break with my tradition of making no comments on ridecamp 
for this one. My trails are also such that backing off the trail or getting
too anxious could lead to VERRRY BIG falls. I have had to resort to strategies
that don't require the use of a parachute.
My first question is, does he not want to leave home or not want to
leave his buddy? If it is his buddy, often it helps to ride together &
then make minor separations on the trail where they can see each other
& then get right back together again. Gradually increase the distance
& time. Key to this is making the separations short enough that he
stays relaxed. This may not be an instant cure but it is certainly
worth the extra work. The other thing that seems to consistently gain success
is to find spots along the trail that give you enough room to do circles.
By this I do not mean circling your horse. I mean the kind of circles where
you focus on making the roundest circles possible, continuously
asking your horse to move his inside leg deeper underneath himself by squeezing
with your inside leg as his inside leg comes forward. There is a lot to
be said for focusing on what you want to do instead of what you don't want
him to do.
Hope this helps.
carol
oregon