Pulling the trigger
There comes a time when you are training a horse that you have no other option. You just have to pull the trigger and hope that all goes according to plan. I have been working with Domino an 8 year old unhandled mare. We started our work together in a gentle way. I would feed and water her in the morning and clean out her yard. As she became familiar with the routine, she soon became confident that I was not a threat and would move off the fence and investigate me as I was mucking out or feeding. It was not long before she initiated first contact and I was able rub her all over, something she began to really enjoy. With our relationship developing I introduced the rope halter into the morning ritual of a body rub. I was so pleased as she became accepting of my touch with the halter. Perhaps this initial success made me over confident with respect how she was feeling about being handled. With the halter rubbing going so well I began to advance and retreat over and aroun...