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[RC] My blind Friesian - Ridecamp GuestPlease Reply to: Dawn Simas dawnsimas67@xxxxxxxxxxxxx or ridecamp@xxxxxxxxxxxxx ========================================== I rescued a 2 year old totally blind Friesian a few years ago and he's the best horse I've worked with. Was a bit dangerous when he first came here, but all he needed was a little patience and consistency. He's 5 now and can do it all. He took 4th place out of 16 horses in his very first dressage show, we didn't even tell the audience or the judges. I ride him on trails, same trails as Tevis and the American River Ride are held. Just for fun, I even took him on a Search And Rescue Qualifying Ride on the American River trail, which was 4 hours and some very technical stuff. He even had to cross the bridge several times (and had never been on one) in order to help the other young horses across. He knows the verbal commands "step up" and "step down". The degree of the up or down is cued by the reins--higher on the neck means a higher grade up. If the command is given while he's moving, it's a gradual grade. If it's a step like into a trailer or up a boulder or curb, I halt him and give the command, that means the next step forward is up or down, not just a grade, in which he will paddle the air to find the ledge. He really taught himself these things because if he didn't listen, he'd stumble and the negative reinforcement was accurate enough for him to learn quickly. My job was to *never lie* (nor forget to cue) and be consistent. He also stops on a dime. To teach him this, I walk him into a no climb horse fence at home and say whoa when the next step is into the fence. I give him a tune up now and then with this technique and it keeps him very focused on me. I wish this trick would work with all my horses... :) <<intensely tuned into me......trusting me, a stranger, not to let him get hurt. >> Honestly, isn't this what we expect of any horse? I have to say that Mojo is one of the better, most balanced horses I've ever ridden. He doesn't spook at the monsters and never daydreams or spectates instead of listening to my cues. His rider is his world and his freedom. He has an inspirational book out that was donated by the author for the proceeds go to his ongoing care. Next month he is going to a dressage rider in LA that believes he could go Grand Prix. For more info: www.wildaboutcats.org/mojo.htm Dawn =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- Ridecamp is a service of Endurance Net, http://www.endurance.net. Information, Policy, Disclaimer: http://www.endurance.net/Ridecamp Subscribe/Unsubscribe http://www.endurance.net/ridecamp/logon.asp Ride Long and Ride Safe!! =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
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