On Jan 13
thereabouts I was talking about the importance of the walk stop exercise – 2.5 months ago - walk
3 or 5 steps, then a complete stop, then again. The exercise teaches them to listen to
you. It is good for the go go go horse
and for the slow slow slow horse.
I learned
this from John Lyons years ago and have always used it in training or
retraining one of my darlings. It has
always worked.
BUT, my
goodness, it takes PATIENCE, but sure worth it in the end.
Back to my
crazy little high speed 18 year old Paso Fino that I bought this fall. I now have 32 hours on her. I do get a tad discouraged and a bit
frustrated in teaching her to slow down.
So, a while back, and it did take forever, she would be able to get to
the 60 steps in just walking but no more and not consistently
.
So, weather permitting – it has been a bear with
snow, ice and cold in upstate NY , I just kept working on it when I could . Can you say boring ? and frustrating, etc. ?
Well, today
we broke the 200 walk step and complete and wait stops – twice !
This may not
sound like a BIG DEAL with a lot of folks – but it shows you the patience and
repetition and consistency you need when it comes to working with the little
darlings. You just can’t give up.
My Jose was
similar to Cassie – and he was my greatest & most difficult partner ever – and I got it done
with Jose and I have no doubt I can get it done with Cassie.
 |
| Cassie and Mary |
So, I guess,
as I blather on and on, my advice to you is just hang in there. It will happen, even with a heck of a hot
horse.
This is the stuff I breathe, love and live for.
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