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At 04:57 AM 7/14/2004, Christina McCarthy wrote:
> when I round penned him he did the circles and turned when I wanted him to 
> and then he came to me.

You have taught your horse to come to you when he stops.  What you might 
want to do is teach your horse to stop and stay!  I have taught some of my 
horses to stop when I hold up my palm flat in their direction (like a 
traffic cop's hand stop signal).

The next time your horse comes to you as he does, just before he gets to 
you, put your hand up in the stop signal in front of his face.  Don't just 
wait till the last second and spook him - just put your hand up shortly 
before he reaches you in a deliberate and calm fashion.  If he runs into 
your hand and stops or stops just short of running into your hand, reward 
him (with my horses the regular reward is just saying "good boy" or "good 
girl", and a really special award is a pat or scratch).  Holding your hand 
in place, back up a step.  If he doesn't move, reward.  Holding up your 
hand, back up another step, reward him if he doesn't move.  Put your hand 
down and back up a few steps - if he stays there, reward.  If he takes a 
step to you, put up your hand and if he stops, reward.  If he doesn't stop, 
let him walk into your hand - even if he does stop at that point no reward 
because you don't want to teach JJ that the idea is to walk into your hand!

When you are doing this, use your mind as well.  Envision your hand as 
emanating a force that is a big barrier.  Feel it in your own body as a 
Major Point of Stopping.  Believe fully that JJ will stop when you put your 
hand up.  I am not saying that there is any psychic component to training 
(and I'm not saying there isn't either), but if you don't believe the horse 
will stop, neither will he.  Maybe believing changes your body language and 
that's what the horse gets (they are masters at that) - who cares. You want 
JJ to stop

Each time there is an opportunity to teach the stop, do it.  You don't have 
to make a big deal about it - there's no need to have a "training session" 
just for learning the stop signal.  Your horse will get it!

________________________________
   Lif Strand      fasterhorses.com
           Quemado NM USA


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