Sweet Wild Syringa

[baymule]

I love the pictures. She trusts you and you going slow with her is at her speed. I think you are doing all the right things for her and how she processes things. I had an idea on the trailer training. Have you had the trailer hooked to the truck in your training sessions? Have the truck running when you load her. It might be too big of a jump to load her, crank the truck and move off. How far do you plan on driving her around and will you go back home to unload her?

 

[thistlebloom]

That's a great point Bay, I will have the truck running next time we load. She's actually had a lot of trailer experience, I don't know what the BLM used to move horses to adoption events, but she was moved around at least 3 times. Those were obviously not pluses in her trailer training as they were herded in and hauled loose as a group. Very frightening to say the least. But the TIP trainer who put two weeks on her hauled her tied, in his big stock trailer down into town a few times, and she's been in my neighbors nice slant load 3 times.
My trailer is just a dinky little 2 horse straight load and claustrophobic.
My husband is going to see about removing the upper rear storm doors, at least for the summer so it's not such a cave.

It's actually really amazing when you think about it that any horse loads into a trailer. A noisy enclosed space that moves with objects speeding by the windows. A little mind blowing that they can trust us that much.

Oh, and I was just going to haul her around the neighborhood on our first trip, then I can keep my speed slow and other stimulus to a minimum. Coming back home to unload.

 

[flowerbug]

*little thought bubble over her head when you're going around the block*

why are we going in circles?

 

[baymule]

She will do fine. You are not rushing her and she takes things in stride. After her first ride, why don't you feed her in the trailer before you take her out? That will definitely leave a positive in her mind.

My old gelding, Joe, liked to get in the trailer and go. Sometimes he would go put his front feet on the, I guess "running boards?" by the fenders, plaining telling me that it was time to go for a ride. Now, his favorite place is the neighbor's yard and he goes and stands by the gate for Robert to let him in. Robert also keeps a bag of cracked corn that he gives out as treats. ALL my horses like to go "visiting".

 

[thistlebloom]

There is always fresh hay in the feed box for her when she gets in. Plus her little bit of grain. She is so food motivated that it makes an easy reward for her. I found that it's helpful to have her a bit hungry before loading, so I usually put her in the round pen for a few hours prior.
We all need incentives, lol.

 

[ninnymary]

Sounds like she’s progressing a little faster now.

It would be neat if you could make a list of what she could do or where she was at when you got her comparing to another column with her current achievements.

I know I’ve asked this before but have you had her a year already?

Mary

 

[thistlebloom]

Sounds like she’s progressing a little faster now.

It would be neat if you could make a list of what she could do or where she was at when you got her comparing to another column with her current achievements.

I know I’ve asked this before but have you had her a year already?

Mary

Hmmm...that's an idea...
It would make an interesting list for comparison at a glance.
Our one year anniversary will be July13.

 

[flowerbug]

Hmmm...that's an idea...
It would make an interesting list for comparison at a glance.
Our one year anniversary will be July13.

wow, time is going by so fast.

 

[canesisters]

 

[thistlebloom]

Happy Anniversary little Sweet Potato, I'm so happy we found each other.


Homecoming, July 13, 2018