Sedation - could this have made a difference? (Pablo & training)

[Esther.D]

Just a thought:

since Pablo went away for the weekend his behaviour has been amazing, so much more relaxed and happier with us (see other thread on our breakthrough with Pablo). Now I cannot think of an explanation but it suddenly occurred to me that we lightly sedated him to load him for the first time in the trailer.

Now the sedation did take visible effect (he visibly relaxed and loaded and traveled well) but that was a month ago and he has been really calm and good ever since, and all weekend despite the sedative visibly wearing off part way through the first day(we had loaded and travelled him very early in the morning).

What I am wondering is whether the time he had loading, travelling and working under light sedation has been some form of learning experience for him? Suddenly things were no scary, he did them without being het up and he is still in one piece after doing them?

I have never seen him so relaxed and friendly as he has been even since that weekend.....could his time under sedation have affected his general view on the world and encouraged him to loose those last few nerves?

I am not intending to use it again, we loaded him and travelled him back without it, but I can think of no other explanation for his change in behaviour since that time. We have exchanged a nervous horse for a bombproof ploddy cob and have been able to do things he has never accepted before. Stephen was leaning over his back, he was accepting the stick and lash waved around - which would have previously reduced him to a quivering wreck.

Ideas? Opinions? It seems unlikely but the change is so dramatic and dates from precisely that time that I can't think of another explanation......:confused:

[Lgd]

Log off and get on with your PhD :D

Just doing as I'm told.

Yes, I would think that it could have made such a dramatic difference. Relaxation is often the key that opens the door, even when 'assisted'.

[Tootsie4U]

Hmmm... it makes some logical sense.

More of me, though, is thinking that you finally became his rock of stability.

New place, new sights, new smells, new people - everything completely different from the norm. Naturally, in those sorts of situations the horse looks for protection and anything familiar - as a foundation. He learned that you and Steven were something to trust that day.

Its not about being boss, its about being the leader. Because of the newness of his situation, he needed to take leadership from you in order to make it thru the weekend. He did, he has, and he still is.

Thats my assessment :)

[Esther.D]

Thanks. Yes Tootsie I think that may have had something to do with it, although we have changed yards etc before now with no difference in his behaviour towards us, however he is further on now with his trust in us so that might have made a difference.

I doubt he was very bothered by the new place, he never is, he is so laid back about things like that - people bother him but places and things don't. If we can get his full trust then we will have the most bombproof cob ever, nothing ever phases him - we have had him for three years and have never seen him shy once!

I'm glad you don't both think I am mad, I was just trying to isolate anything that might have led to this difference in behaviour and that was an obvious variable that we have never had before.

[Miriam]

Originally posted by Lgd
Log off and get on with your PhD :D

Just doing as I'm told.



Don't tell her that she'll tell you its done or that she has a day off. I've threatened to ban her (until its done :D) and she told me that it is done and handed in :rolleyes:

Esther I'd give the sedation time to wear off and then see what happens

[Esther.D]

Esther I'd give the sedation time to wear off and then see what happens

its had a month :eek: methinks you missed something in the post, the sedation was a month ago and lasts 8 hours........:D

Well ok the PhD wasn't handed in...but the chapter I was working on at the time was..............:o

[Miriam]

oops sorry. Maybe he had an overdose is and its still wearing off ;) (only kidding) then its good to see a change in him :D

Well you did say that you had a few years to go for the full Phd didn't you?

[Esther.D]

scheduled date of completion - April 2006 ....

[Miriam]

Something llike that :D Now come and give whatever you gave Pable to Kito and lets see a huge change in him. Cause if I don't get him out and practice this in hand showing with him and Gem we will be in a pickle.