Post by dunbnwild on Jan 23, 2009 10:06:06 GMT -5
I'm so excited to share these pics of Mari--she's from the 1999 adoption, came in from the wild with a healed broken shoulder and subsequent club foot. Had a string of bad experiences and was almost put down.
When I first got her I tried some traditional natural horsemanship stuff and was able to do a few things with her, but her eyes were always "behind the wall" and she was quick to bolt at any hint of trouble. Every interaction with people was a life or death situation for her. So I thought a more experienced trainer would help and I found a Parelli certified instructor who came out and spent about 6 hours over three days (I won't even tell you how much he cost) and he was only ever able to touch her shoulder.
(Not to knock this trainer or parelli--I only bring this up to show how far Mari's come)
I ended up working with her myself using clicker training, focusing not so much on handling skills as I was on building trust. And I found her to be a very willing and easy to train girl. But those past experiences of hers and those old habits of bolting would still come up, especially when any sort of pressure was applied. Even the presence of another person would be too much.
These pics are after 1 month with my new trainer (By the way after about 30 minutes she had her loaded in the trailer without any force and after 3 days had her loaded up and to the vet for a full workup). At first my trainer didn't trust her not to bolt with other people handling her, but now she has her teenage assistant working her and these are pictures of my first real session with her, which was last weekend.
"Calm and cool, do this everyday"
"Happy circles"
"She jumps like a gazelle! Guess we can take away her handicap parking sticker."
"Scratches and cuddles"
When I first got her I tried some traditional natural horsemanship stuff and was able to do a few things with her, but her eyes were always "behind the wall" and she was quick to bolt at any hint of trouble. Every interaction with people was a life or death situation for her. So I thought a more experienced trainer would help and I found a Parelli certified instructor who came out and spent about 6 hours over three days (I won't even tell you how much he cost) and he was only ever able to touch her shoulder.
(Not to knock this trainer or parelli--I only bring this up to show how far Mari's come)
I ended up working with her myself using clicker training, focusing not so much on handling skills as I was on building trust. And I found her to be a very willing and easy to train girl. But those past experiences of hers and those old habits of bolting would still come up, especially when any sort of pressure was applied. Even the presence of another person would be too much.
These pics are after 1 month with my new trainer (By the way after about 30 minutes she had her loaded in the trailer without any force and after 3 days had her loaded up and to the vet for a full workup). At first my trainer didn't trust her not to bolt with other people handling her, but now she has her teenage assistant working her and these are pictures of my first real session with her, which was last weekend.
"Calm and cool, do this everyday"
"Happy circles"
"She jumps like a gazelle! Guess we can take away her handicap parking sticker."
"Scratches and cuddles"
