Shiraz hasn’t been ridden, since she returned from a training situation with PTSD three years ago. She has come to a place where she trusts me implicitly and having a rider climb onto a bareback pad is okay but, as you will see, she caves under pressure, even what seems like no pressure to us. Maddie, sat on Shiraz applied minimal aids while I gave familiar instruction from the ground. It’s not really riding, but it’s as much (or maybe even a little bit more) than Shiraz can handle. Crossing the tarp was a bridge too far and we turned ourselves inside out to find a happy place to end the session.
It is also worth noting that Shiraz’s ulcers flared up after this riding session and we learned that “stubborn” is the first symptom of something bothering her.

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​2 weeks after our failed attempts to cross a tarp while mounted, I did some emotional release work for abandonment and anxiety, and Shiraz crossed the tarp. She didn’t actually step on it, clever girl, but we were elated! 

March 2019 CT Stationing Challenge
As you’ll see, this winter has been a challenge. My work area and most of my objects are under snow. Besides that, packed snow is now ice, and melting makes puddles. So slippery! All I’ve done for the past 3 months, along with absolutely nothing but feeding, is have the horses (1) come to me when I squat on the ground, and (2) casual connection time (hanging out together). Lots of that and, boy, has it paid off!
Standing on a board or platform is not a challenge so I used a saddle pad. I employed the target to focus the horses’ attention on the area of the pad and had high value treats, carrots and cookies, for putting a foot or feet on it. Jalila finds the target irresistible, Shiraz, not so much, but she does love to come to me when I squat down.
The milestones for each of us in this video aren’t about stepping on the pad. Our progress is remarkable:

1. Jalila is relaxed.
2. Shiraz is engaged, happy, and confident.
3. I’m having fun.

A big shout out to the Red-Winged Black Birds for the soundtrack!

​I made this video to enter the Connection Training November 2018 Challenge to teach your horse to Stay.
Why Stay? Horses can get stuck wanting to keep their noses with you and with the treat. Stay teaches early on that it’s ok for you to work in different positions.
It’s also a really useful exercise in teaching your horse patience and is the foundation of many of other exercises such as standing tied, being groomed and standing quietly in the horse box or trailer.
I’m looking for my horses to understand Stay, or stand still, while I move around them or walk away.
As always, working with these two horses requires different approaches for each. What is amazing to me is that Shiraz frequently offers to do things that she has observed Jalila doing. For example, I never taught Shiraz about the orange road cone target. I worked with her on a mat. (The double stay was sort of a fluke but I had it on film so I added it in.)