Very, very, very, very pleased with Rupert :)

[Esther.D]

For those of you who are not familar with the ongoing saga of Rupert have a peep at this thread as there is no point boring everyone by explaining it all again.
http://www.newrider.com/forum/showthread.php?s=&threadid=18231

I'm afraid this is going to be long!

Today Rupert was very jumpy and took about 10 min to catch (he would come up to me but wouldn't let me put the rope round his neck). This is very unusual for him but he had been upset by Pablo causing chaos (another story).

Anyway I caught him and brought him out of the field. He was very tense and showing his 'worried face' and fidgeting all the time. My mother was with me so we decided to give him a massage to try and relax him a bit (she is a human physio who also has some horse training and gives great horse massages). This was Rupert's first massage and he was a bit nervous so she went extremely gently. The muscles of his back were so tight it was unbelievable...but he had no areas of special sensitivity so we continued very gently. Gradually he began to relax and his eyes went soft and then he rested a hoof (I have never seen him do that - in a year!!!) then he began to groom me all over my back and neck and then he got a floppy bottom lip (again, never seen that on him) and by the end he was asleep:)

We stood with him reading the parelli lesson book (we have been doing the first parielli lessons for a while) while resting our arms over his back!!!:D while he dosed happily in the sun.

We then moved onto the first of the Parelli games that we have been working on - the friendly game - this involved touch. He was amazingly relaxed about the touch and stood happily (his massage seemed to have convinced him that touch is good:)). When he had stood like a statue (and relaxed) to be touched in all the 'zones' we moved onto try the initial stages of the next game. This involves moving away from pressure - and a lot of Rupert's behaviour suddenly became clear - he has never been taught to move away from pressure!!

A lightbulb suddenly went on in my head - no wonder he ignores my legs - he has no idea how to respond to pressure at all, he just looked confused:( And if that isn't enough proof of his ignorance, when we showed him what we wanted by making it easy for him to get it right, he was so pleased that he was being told he was good that he got really excited and started headbutting me and licking my hands (he does that when he is pleased - just like a big dog!). Within 2 goes he had realised what was wanted and performed perfectly each time after that:)

We then went for one of our little walks (50 yrds down the track) to convince him that being away from his friends is not scarey - and we got further than ever before with no treats and no resistance:D We turned around while he was going well and let him graze for a bit so he didn't rush back to the gate.

When I let him off in the field he didn't bully for treats he stayed with me and did'nt go over to the others. He was winding himself around me and pressing against me - nuzzling in my hair and sucking my jacket (I know - he is a big baby).

My brattish, bad mannered and anxious pony seems to be fast turning into a very demonstrative and affectionate one - in fact almost embarrasingly affectionate at times. As my parents remarked - I seem to be his 'mum' now and that is how he was acting...as if I was his mum, looking to me for reassurance, pressing into me and even sucking my jacket:rolleyes:

Since we have had such dramatic results today (and it started out as one of his 'upset' days) we have decided that this is certainly the way to go with him. Since he still gets very anxious with tack and anything he doesn't understand (on the ground I could actually hear the poor soul hyper-ventilating and panting when he was asked to do anything he wasn't sure of) we have decided to carry on with this parelli lessons and not ride again until he reaches the parelli lesson 9 where the saddle is re-introduced. This will probably take a few months but I think he is showing so much anxiety that it will be time well spent. He has also booked in another horsey massage with my mum;) :D

[Perdita]

Oh Esther, yes that was long, but definately worth the read! Bless him, I couldn't help but grin when I read the bit about him dozing off during his massage:D Your mum must be talented! You must be so proud of him, and it sounds like you covered a lot of ground today.He's a lucky guy to have an owner like you:) Good luck with the Parelli, that sounds like a good idea.I can't imagine the strength of bond you'll have even further on down the line, it's brilliant:) Well done all of you.

[galadriel]

Oh, what a boy! Poor child--sounds like a sensitive soul. Given the opportunity to please, he's getting upset when he doesn't know what you want...what a doll. And given positive feedback, he melts? Oh baby :)

[Miriam]

Esther glad to hear Rupert is doing well. It helps when that light suddenly comes on and you can see the light at the end of the tunnel :D

[Wally]

He doesn't look the sensetive, artistic type bless him!

It's amazing innit? sometimes it is such a simple basic thing which can make all the difference to a horse.

Less is so often more with horses, and they usually want to please and do the right thing if only they are shown in a language they understand.

Great when things go well and you understand what makes your horse tick.

[Mehitabel]

that's great news esther - there'll be no stopping you soon, now you've found rupert's key!

[Esther.D]

Thanks all, sorry the post was so long but I was very pleased:D Rupert the bully has revealed a very soft centre;) He was so lovely on saturday.....but I think he is even more novice than I realised. When he relaxed he was like a foal - all mouthy (not nipping) with everything. I think he had submerged his real personality a long way below the surface somewhere to cope with the negative responses he was getting. The riding stables he was at originally said he was really sweet and I am beginning to believe them;) But the more work I do the more ignorance he is revealing - what WAS he been taught for goodness sake?- when you break it all down into separate aids the only riding ones he seems to understand are - pull to stop and using a whip to go:( :( The reason for lots of his evasions are becoming clearer now. I am rapidly coming to the conclusion that he has had a very rudimentary education indeed. That is why I am going back to square one and treating him like a 3 year old (in fact he doesn't know as much as my three yr olds usually do ) .....

[galadriel]

I know that with every horse I've ever worked on, I can't assume they know *any* thing--so I always just start from square one. I figure that even if they do know how to, say, move over from the leg, it won't hurt them to learn it precisely how I will be asking for it. I would guess it's saved me a lot of headaches :)

[Pollski]

Once your mum did her magic by removing the muscle knots, he got better. I bet his last saddle with his previous owner gave him hell - hence the muscle knots and allergy to the saddle - it's all related.

Esther D, it seems you and Mummy D are performing little miracles on that beautiful boy of yours. Rupert is very lucky pony to have an owner and friend like you. It's so lovely to read, it's making me a little teary !!

:)

xPx