Re: [RC] great ride, if only i can catch him..... - Suzi Maiorisi
Holly and I have played these games when she first came home. Now the
debate is over who gets fed first, Holly or the chickens! I won't go out
there with food now, but I did that at first because going out with
just a halter was immediate grounds for a running tear thru the pasture.
Once I convinced her that food was forthcoming she would come right up and wait
to be caught (who's catching whom here?) For a couple of days I brought the
bucket down to the gate and left it on the outside. Then I left out the
bucket completely, but I catch her during the day and will just tie her in her
stall or tie her to the trailer, or groom her or whatever so that it's not
always associated with a ride. Sometimes food is involved (waiting at the
trailer or in her stall) sometimes not. Sometimes she has to stand tied
quietly for X minutes before she is released and food may or may not be
forthcoming. Mix it up, try not to do the same thing twice - just like
getting off the horse somewhere in your yard/pasture/camping area other than
right at the trailer to teach them that once they get in site of it, that's not
the ONLY place to go!
Subject: [RC] great ride, if only i can
catch him.....
Okay. This is a bit embarassing.
I have recently become the new owner of a terrific Arabian. Sunny
rides great -- BIG, floating trot. Lots of stamina. Will make an incredible
endurance horse, I think. The only problem is that it takes me a loooooong
time to catch him.
My other Arab, Vashka, is easy to catch. Unless Sunny gets him going
and then forget it.
I tried a kind of John Lyons approach by chasing him around the pasture,
which got him so tired he wanted to join up and come to
me.
Only now the pasture is very soppy and when the horses run I close my
eyes because I get nervous about how they slip around and nearly
fall.........
I have tried apples, his favorite. I have tried buckets of
oats........
I have tried putting them in smaller spaces but then they just show me
how athletic they are with their tightly woven turns and agile side
passess........
I would really appreciate some advice, as I can see my neighbor across
the street staring through her kitchen window and laughing at me as I run
after these Aaaaa-rabs....
