Today I thought it would be fun to get all the horses to be polite and stand still while I doled out treats. I pictured how calm and pleasant it would be if they would all hold a position and quietly wait for me to pass around goodies. I actually felt very enthusiastic about this project, and bounced out to the field with a pouch full of tasty morsels.
Naturally, George came over to claim first dibs. We worked on George standing still, resuming his position if he broke it, and then waiting in position while I walked away and returned. At first he got grouchy when I asked him to replace his foot back into position once it had moved forward. But I did the bridgey thing and kept the treats coming, and pretty soon he was rock solid.
So rock solid, in fact, that when I turned to work with Miss Bridget, George just stood in position looking cheerfully expectant, and every now and then I would send a congratulatory intermediate bridge word over to him or step over and give him a treat.
Bridget was less cranky (not at all cranky, in fact) about being asked to move back into position after stepping forward. But she was a deal more persistent about trying to move.
However, for a moment or two, I had George and Bridget secure enough that I could walk away and give a treat to Rose, without either of them breaking position.
It all turned out to be remarkably enjoyable and gratifying.
Next I started with George on the amazingly clever game in the video in the post before last. I do believe he started to figure it out.
As my kids used to say: "Oh the fun-ness!!"
That's quite an achievement to get them all to stand and wait! Minnie and Cassie will stand together for minutes at the time when I lunge Arrow, but that is their own choice and has nothing to do with me: they just really enjoy watching him being put through his paces.
ReplyDeleteThat's funny - I can just imagine them spectating and probably making critical comments to each other about his form.
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