Foal Friday

Thank you everyone for the advice on the Wednesday Wisdom. We've already put some of it into play as Charlie has gotten more comfortable and started to test boundaries. Do I think it is adorable that he knows I give good scritches now and tried to shove his butt into me to request them? Yes. Is it adorable if he's 900 pounds? No. Alright, nip that one in the bud. 

We've done a couple of leading lessons post unintentional romp with lead rope. The first one was a little touch and go. But the second one he was roughly one million times better and very responsive to light pressure.

HE'S SO CUTE 

We got to test out our response to pressure a few times in later lessons (4th and 5th??). The first time was when his field mate filly decided to go for a romp from across the pasture to buzz right by his butt. He didn't completely lose it and came back to earth relatively quickly. Good boy. 

Pony tail OMG 

Another test was when we were walking around and then he ALL OF A SUDDEN noticed the chair and magazines I had sitting by the gate as we were headed that direction. He wanted to turn around and leave, but again acquiesced to pressure to stay (relatively) with me. I used the approach and retreat method to make two circles away from the scary items then called it good. 

It was lightly raining and his mane was crimpy and adorable 

I've been playing with Warwick Schiller's drive and draw idea as well. 100% draw horses run right up and into your space and push you over. 100% drive horses run away from you when you look their way. Initially, as I guess is typical (wouldn't know, haven't done this before), he had much more drive. But we're getting a good balance now. 

Enough draw that he's now comfortable napping right next to me. He noticed me as I walked over, but kept his eye sleepy, so I came close and then sat down

All four decided it was nap time

Teddy (his dam) was initially standing, but then heaved a big sigh and laid down too

Sweet mare

Ermagerd

I've been picking up his feet for a few weeks now, but then I decided that I should be able to hold them up for 5-10 seconds. We had a few awkward dances while he used his other three legs to move around and once went down on his knees. I realized after a few tries that I had gone from merely lifting the foot to expecting to hold onto the foot for much longer, so I backed off to a one-one thousand and then setting the foot down again. Baby steps for the baby, sorry buddy. 

Learning to read 

Can you help me turn the page? 

The first of many selfies

HI