A fun game to play

[Amber Hughes]

My friend played a fun game with me the other day

I stood infront of her and I was the pony, she was directly infront of my face just staring at me

Then she said I want you to do something

I thought eh>? so I moved backwards then she yelled BAD PONY then i moved sideways she yelled BAD PONY NO NO then I layed down again she said BAD BAD BAD NO and went to hit me

Really is a good way cos it puts you on the spot and makes you see it from the horses point of view having someone staring at you wanting you do to something and you dont get what - was a good experience

This made me think boy we really are gits to our horses before we get into horsemanship I see horses shuffling around at the yard and their owners screaming at them STAND UP etc etc

Makes me get a bit mad inside but darent say anything

[Keket]

Erm, no offense, but that wouldn't make me think about anything, other then it being a pointless exercise. :confused: Of course you're not going to read her mind. I don't think many people, natural horsemanship or traditional expect that. A more effective exercise would be to give an actual cue (ie, push on your left side) and see the reaction you get. What you're describing is giving no cue at all and expecting the right answer. Even bad horse people give cues, they're just not effective.

[vikkig]

i might use that excerise with some of the children on the yard as some of them think that there ponies can read there mind and know what they are suppose to do all the time,

[jinglejoys]

There are several differant versions I've seen of this game.
Adam Goodfellow put us in pairs,one the horse and one the handler then the "Horse" had to go out of the room and the handler was given a few tasks to ask the "Horse" to perform.All the handler was allowed to say was yes or no as the horse did the task.
He also tried it out on us each in a small way talking Japenese!
Linda Parelli does the same with her pupils in the Level1 DVD's using a plastic bottle to either rub or tap the "horse":)