Re: "Meeting You at the Gate Stories"
Cloud and I alternate between having lots of trouble with this issue and looking like pros.
Currently, we've been going through a slump of "you can't catch me" moments. Reasons being mixed: RB because he's unconfident w/ the haltering process; LB because he's learned he can outrun me. [thank GOD we moved to a place w/ much smaller paddocks - no more truging over 3 acres of land!] I'd been really dissappointed w/ it all - we're L2, "why won't he come to me?"
The answer, in hindsight, was quite obvious: "Because you let him!" How interesting.
Basically, when I go into pasture, I push all the other horses away, but I baby Cloud. If Andy or Remmy get too close, they get the "look" and maybe get "bitten". If Cloud gets too close, he gets "oh, so sweet!" I hate to admit it... The end result was that Andy and Remmy paid attention to EVERY move I made and Cloud ignored them all. Hmmm.....
All that changed Wednesday. Cloud got too close - he got bitten. *SNOOOORRRRT* Paid attention after that! He tried to run away from me - I ran with (not after) him, pace for pace, matching his energy. If he tried to escape at walk, I power-walked. He jogged, I trotted. He loped, I cantered. (huff, pant) He couldn't out maneuver me! (pant, pant) Finally - two circuits later at a gallop! - he stopped, and sighed. 5 minutes later, he was glued to me.
From there, we did a lot of work on his confidence in haltering and in Liberty - including the Catching Game. He started comming to me at full canter! So (finally) I was able to use the right arrows at the right time! I'd tried (and stomped on) almost all my other arrows and had nearly forgotten about this one! So I was glad to have it!
It will be interesting to see how easily he comes to me next time I go up (Sunday at the earliest) but I think we're over the hump - the worst is over!
*****The best part about this: Yes, we seem to keep falling into this rut, but every time, we are able to get out quicker. When I first started, it would have taken me 1-2 weeks before we fixed it (and we rarely ever *fixed* it - just put a BandAid on). Now, it's taking me much shorter - 1 or 2 sessions!!!! Progress!!
((Sheesh - I 'm getting sick of this issue just copying and pasting! I'm so glad to be mostly over the hump on this one.. although Cloudy isn't in a herd environment anymore so there's no reason for him to NOT come see me.))
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