#148 Report

Conversation overhead between Mr. Nob, our rider, and #148 Tee Pee Minister:

Nob:  What's got into you all the sudden?

#148:  What do you mean by that?

Nob:  Since Thurs. you've been a total AH.

#148.  True, although I've always been a bit of a stinker when you get on.

Nob:  True.  However, your behavior has suddenly worsened. You are out of control.  What's going on?

#148 You are taking me away from my buds.

Nob:  I've always taken you away from them.  What's different now?

#148  Flies.

Nob (quizzically):  what do you mean, flies?

#148  I need to be next to my buddies so I can rub off the flies.  You keep taking me away.

Nob  (light bulb goes off in head):  I see.  Now, do you see this stick.

#148:  I see it and feel it.

Nob:  If you feel it a little more, will that change your behavior.

#148  Possibly.

After last Thursday's training report #148 became downright dangerous under tack.  Progress is described below.  As of Tues 7/1 problem on the way to solution, hopefully.  We decided 3/4 of #148's misbehavior was fly distress, and the other 25% is that this smart horse has a mind of his own..  I've never seen this many flies this aggressive.  They swarm around the horses.  They swarm around my truck.  They keep swarming right around the horses despite the insecticides.

Fri 6/27:
#148 Problems of day before worsen. Nob worked with the horse for an hour.  Initially close to out of control--refusal, beginning stages of head down,  bucking,  threatening rearing, backing up, the whole arsenal.  By end the horse was starting to pay attention to stick although only willing to go 10-20 yds away from buds.  Stopped at that point.

Sat. 6/28
#148 More of the same. Went about 30 min.due to time constraint. Horse threatens serious stuff with rider on board.  Nob got off and let the horse have it.  Slight improvement and ended same as day before with some limited attention to aids.

#148 Sun 6/29  Repeat of Fri. 6/27.  Horse totally out of control initially.  Ends with walking near other horses with some attention to stick.

#148 Mon. 6/29.  Spent a rough 45 min with the horse just bellying in the paddock with other horses present.  Horse continues to be out of control even at the belly.  Several ground thumpings. Finished when horse finally did something right.

#148 Tues. 6/30:  Training moved to evening due to mud.  Strategy after yesterday's discipline was total calmness. We settled down the horse till he was almost asleep at the mounting stand.  Lot's of "good boy", and Nob mounted.  First three steps were backward, but thereafter the horse was a perfect gentleman.  Obeyed all aids in walking 20 min. around paddock, discipline unnecessary.

#17 report next post.