Slight Improvement
Phoenix was slightly better tonight. I went out to the farm a little earlier than usual to try and work with him, but the problem is when my horses see me they automatically think "dinner time", so Phoenix REFUSED to be caught because he wanted his grain. I tried for a frustrating 30 mins to catch him before giving up and going to get their dinner. Once I set his grain I had no problem at all haltering him. I didn't let him eat but a few bites before I took him out of the field and away from the other horses to try and work with him.
He started to do the same nonsense as yesterday completely distracted and trying to leap and run around me, but after a "come to Jesus" moment he settled down and listened to my cues (mostly). I lunged him for a good 45 mins until he started to listen perfectly, and for a cool down I took him for a walk on the old dirt road that runs by the farm. For the most part he did OK on that, there were a few things in the woods that spooked him and he kept trying to plow his shoulder into me- but after the second time of pinching him off me he remembered the personal bubble.
When I came back down the road one of the neighbors flagged me down to talk about the 'awful high spirited arabians' and how I needed to be 'careful' and blah blah blah. I have to be nice to these people, but I really wish I could explain to them bluntly that I'm not a moron and actually understand what I'm doing. I ended up asking the man if he had noticed anyone messing with my horses because they have all seemed a little spooky the past few days (no one lives on the farm where I have them boarded, so the nosy neighbors "help" me take care of them) My neighbor then told me that people with four-wheelers have been zooming up the old dirt road and whizzing by my horses revving their engines to spook them.
So, that might explain my horse's behavior the past few days. Jackasses spooking them from the road. Awesome. After I fed Phoenix and put him back into the field I decided to try my luck and mess with a little mare, Solana, that rescued along with Phoenix. I haven't talked much about her, mostly because I'm not sure what to do with her. She's preggo, and was horribly abused as the people tried to make her a halter horse. Needless to say, but she's skiddish and skeptical of people and hates people to mess with her head. It's taken 5 months just to get her to take a halter on her face again, but she doesn't lead very well and freaks out with you move too fast with her.
I took my chances and haltered her no problem today. Led her around the field and she followed like an old pro, so I decided to teach her to lunge. She did PERFECT! I honestly think she was just trying to show off since Phoenix has been a butt the past few days :)
So, here's a picture of Solana wearing her halter with Phoenix photo bombing in the background :)
He started to do the same nonsense as yesterday completely distracted and trying to leap and run around me, but after a "come to Jesus" moment he settled down and listened to my cues (mostly). I lunged him for a good 45 mins until he started to listen perfectly, and for a cool down I took him for a walk on the old dirt road that runs by the farm. For the most part he did OK on that, there were a few things in the woods that spooked him and he kept trying to plow his shoulder into me- but after the second time of pinching him off me he remembered the personal bubble.
When I came back down the road one of the neighbors flagged me down to talk about the 'awful high spirited arabians' and how I needed to be 'careful' and blah blah blah. I have to be nice to these people, but I really wish I could explain to them bluntly that I'm not a moron and actually understand what I'm doing. I ended up asking the man if he had noticed anyone messing with my horses because they have all seemed a little spooky the past few days (no one lives on the farm where I have them boarded, so the nosy neighbors "help" me take care of them) My neighbor then told me that people with four-wheelers have been zooming up the old dirt road and whizzing by my horses revving their engines to spook them.
So, that might explain my horse's behavior the past few days. Jackasses spooking them from the road. Awesome. After I fed Phoenix and put him back into the field I decided to try my luck and mess with a little mare, Solana, that rescued along with Phoenix. I haven't talked much about her, mostly because I'm not sure what to do with her. She's preggo, and was horribly abused as the people tried to make her a halter horse. Needless to say, but she's skiddish and skeptical of people and hates people to mess with her head. It's taken 5 months just to get her to take a halter on her face again, but she doesn't lead very well and freaks out with you move too fast with her.
I took my chances and haltered her no problem today. Led her around the field and she followed like an old pro, so I decided to teach her to lunge. She did PERFECT! I honestly think she was just trying to show off since Phoenix has been a butt the past few days :)
So, here's a picture of Solana wearing her halter with Phoenix photo bombing in the background :)