Pacha - november 24, 2008

Very cold day (3°C). Pacha very much on his toes, high strung and shying away from almost everything. Understand that yesterday he had the same behavior, and his rider tried to use the whip to force him towards his scaring spots, without success. This horse is so sensitive that I believe nothing but patience and softness can work with him. Spent most of the session at walk and sitting trot, on circles and with short shoulder-ins. After half an hour, he calmed down somewhat, with more regular pace and lower neck carriage. As I felt that so much steam needed to get let out, I extended the part at sitting trot to almost 30', with some halts and walk in between. And finally, 15' at canter both hands. Was not overly pleased with the session, but one of the plus was the fact that I could bring him past some of his scaring spots again, not by force, but with circles drawn closer and closer, and shoulder-ins such that he would not look at the damned banners. I strongly believe that, when a horse is afraid of something, head-on confrontation with the scaring object is to be avoided at all costs, and even more so any kind of constraint/punishment. Rather, trying to get the horse nearer and nearer with mobilising his concentration so that he does not realise that he is driven towards the object of his fear is the way to go - and to arm oneself's with patience of course!At some point he will discover that not only he has come close to the object without noticing it, but I guess he realises that he has passed near it several times before, which diffuses his fear.
He went back to stables wet - but this was due to happen since he was so much high strung (from the cold air, and perhaps too rich a diet)