Shamrock
Rollerblading along the road
My little bay colt, Elvis, is 2 1/2 and growing up fast. He tried to prove it today as I was doing some refresher ground work with him in the round pen. I was free longing him, and it went something like this...
I said to him, "Now,turn and go the other way."
He said, "Nope. I like this direction, so I shall speed up and get ahead of you, so you can't make me turn."
I said, "So you want to play like that do you? Then RUN!" And I wooshed near his butt with the stick and string.
He said, "OH CRAP!" and picked up his feet and cantered.
Then I said to him again, "NOW, turn and go the other direction."
He said, "FINE, but I will turn my butt to you to do it." I'm sure he stuck his tongue out at me at this point. Now, understand, he KNOWS better and knows that turning heels toward me is the absolute wrong thing to do.
I immediately jumped in front of his drive line, and turned him back the original direction and made him gallop around the round pen several more times. I then said, "You will turn and go the other way, and you will do it by turning your face to me...NOT your butt."
And my good little stallion said, "Yes Ma'am! You're the leader!! I will do whatever you say!"
After one lap around, I signaled for him to stop, turn in and come to me in the center of the round pen as his reward for getting it right. Good boy, Elvis. I KNEW you remembered how to do this!
I said to him, "Now,turn and go the other way."
He said, "Nope. I like this direction, so I shall speed up and get ahead of you, so you can't make me turn."
I said, "So you want to play like that do you? Then RUN!" And I wooshed near his butt with the stick and string.
He said, "OH CRAP!" and picked up his feet and cantered.
Then I said to him again, "NOW, turn and go the other direction."
He said, "FINE, but I will turn my butt to you to do it." I'm sure he stuck his tongue out at me at this point. Now, understand, he KNOWS better and knows that turning heels toward me is the absolute wrong thing to do.
I immediately jumped in front of his drive line, and turned him back the original direction and made him gallop around the round pen several more times. I then said, "You will turn and go the other way, and you will do it by turning your face to me...NOT your butt."
And my good little stallion said, "Yes Ma'am! You're the leader!! I will do whatever you say!"
After one lap around, I signaled for him to stop, turn in and come to me in the center of the round pen as his reward for getting it right. Good boy, Elvis. I KNEW you remembered how to do this!
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