Next Fiona put the tarpaulin on the ground in the arena and I got Garbo to walk over it (me sending him over it and me not stepping on it - rather than me walking over it and him following). He did that easy! Next thing he's on the tarpaulin pawing at it and stomping on it - really funny - Fiona said that was fine and a good sign. "Get that tarpaulin"!
Then Fiona placed the umbrella, the tarpaulin and the windscreen shield into the hedges along the side of the arena and I had to walk Garbo past them. It was so funny - all he did was investigate them - then try and eat the grass next to them!
So - so far so good - now the driveway. Garbo gets very spooky hacking down the drive alone. Firstly Fiona explained that Garbo thinks the driveway is a paddock - it's no different really to him - it has fences on either side, grass, and animals on the other side of the fence. As far as he knows when I am leading him - I could be leading him back to a new paddock - he could be waiting to be let loose at any time. Pretty scary when you are heading further and further away from other horses and his current 'home' he knows. So she said I need to help him realise it's still work - by doing circles and backing up whenever his attention is away from me. This worked really well and I led him 3/4 of the way down the drive and back again with no napping or spooks. She also said it's important to let him have a grazing spot at various places (different slightly each time) at the end of the drive and not once we return home (at the top of the drive) so that he does not rush home. Great thinking I thought. Next week - same again but me riding - so I better get lots of practice in!
Then Fiona placed the umbrella, the tarpaulin and the windscreen shield into the hedges along the side of the arena and I had to walk Garbo past them. It was so funny - all he did was investigate them - then try and eat the grass next to them!
So - so far so good - now the driveway. Garbo gets very spooky hacking down the drive alone. Firstly Fiona explained that Garbo thinks the driveway is a paddock - it's no different really to him - it has fences on either side, grass, and animals on the other side of the fence. As far as he knows when I am leading him - I could be leading him back to a new paddock - he could be waiting to be let loose at any time. Pretty scary when you are heading further and further away from other horses and his current 'home' he knows. So she said I need to help him realise it's still work - by doing circles and backing up whenever his attention is away from me. This worked really well and I led him 3/4 of the way down the drive and back again with no napping or spooks. She also said it's important to let him have a grazing spot at various places (different slightly each time) at the end of the drive and not once we return home (at the top of the drive) so that he does not rush home. Great thinking I thought. Next week - same again but me riding - so I better get lots of practice in!
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