Trust is a very fragile thing

[Tootsie4U]

My self-claimed project, the Chestnut filly named Gold that I've been posting about is still at the farm.

We just got another 11 inches of snow, so doing any sort of training with her is difficult, but Im trying, for her sake.

I did a bit of round penning with her which went "ok", just ok. She joined up after a short twenty five minutes (Bonfire took 45) and things were great that day. The very next day however, she regressed back to her reserved self. She still won't let me walk up to her and pet her upon arrival. After some coaxing, she will allow herself to be caught and handling her has actually improved significantly. So, in that sense, I believe the RP work has been beneficial.

Last night was a good night though. She followed me out of her pen, leaving the mare she's so attached to, and we walked around the farm. She even followed me out of sight of that mare, a huge accomplishment considering she would plant her feet ordinarily. She responded instantaneously when I asked her to trot, walk or whoa. Great, huh!?!?

But the thing I am most proud of is she let me blanket her last night. She was a tiny bit worried about the straps but she stood there, quiet. The best part of it - I hadn't any hold of her while I was doing up the straps and buckles. She just waited! :D:D

Her outcome is still up in the air. The final decision is not mine unfortunately.

Thanks everyone for your support and well wishes. :)

[Mehitabel]

sounds like good progress for such a short time - hope it continues and things work out for her.

[Tootsie4U]

That is true, Es. Must remind myself to look at it that way.

Efforts to help her started at the begining of January and were slow going but in fact, her progress lately has seemed to improve exponentially. That is a very good thing.

[Showjumper]

You're doing a fantastic job with her! :D Congratulations :D Now if only you could have her AND keep Bonfire going and afford and have time for them both...

[Tootsie4U]

Woo, theres a lot of and in there:D In a perfect world.

Mares and my boy don't mix though. Total nightmare :rolleyes:

[anuvb]

Originally posted by Tootsie4U

Mares and my boy don't mix though. Total nightmare :rolleyes:

Oh dear, poor you!

[Esther.D]

Glad she is coming on so well, it really does sound like progress in such a short time. Whatever happens, the more training she has the better chance she stands in a new home, so any training progress has to be good for her:)

[cvb]

She joined up after a short twenty five minutes (Bonfire took 45) and things were great that day. The very next day however, she regressed back to her reserved self.

It could be that she was outside her comfort zone the first time, and this is just a temporary regression while she absorbs what happened and that nothing nasty came of it.

Is it possible to do halter and line ground work with her in the round pen ? Just doing the basic yields can do something equivalent to join up but without having to do the "send away" part quite so obviously.

[Tootsie4U]

Hi ya, What do you mean cvb?

I can have her walk/trot/whoa in hand. The yeilding Parelli & Lyons style is hard for her to understand. I guess b/c she is always 'expecting' the worst. With her, she'll perform but I always get this "disconnected" feeling. Like she shuts down and becomes preoccupied with her fear.

[cvb]

Well I guess I was thinking about starting with Friendly Game and a little bit of really gentle, calm quiet work on yielding to pressure.

After all, round pen work is actually all about yielding to pressure, but from a longer distance !

So the kind of thing you might do to ask her to move over or back in the stall - but in a round pen instead. All you would want to be seeing is the smallest of "try" - not strides and strides of movement. And inbetween, lots of Friendly game to explore the areas she may feel more uncomfortable about letting you in to.

[kedwards]

I don't have any advice to impart, but I did want to share my congratulations with you. It sounds like you've been making steady and excellent progress with her. Keep up the good work! And, like Esther mentioned, any work you do now with her will likely benefit her in the long run.