Breakthrough with a skittish gelding during today's appointment

This horse always dances around when I pick up its feet. Tried standing on the opposite side today. It calmed down right away. The job went quickly. Really happy with how it turned out.

3 comments

3 Comments

seth622mo ago

Nice! It's wild how the simplest change makes all the difference. I spent weeks trying to get my buddy's dog to come inside, getting more frustrated each time. Turns out he just wanted me to hold the screen door open instead of the heavy wooden one. Felt like a real genius after that one.

faith_torres832mo ago

Ha! I bet it wasn't about the door being heavy. Dogs are so weird about visual stuff. My sister's lab used to freeze at the glass patio door because she could see her own reflection. Sometimes they just need a clear path they understand, you know? That screen door probably just looked more open and safe to him.

nancy92927d ago

Really happy with how it turned out" - yeah, that's the best feeling when something finally clicks. I read somewhere that horses are super sensitive to where your weight is, like they can feel if you're leaning one way or the other through the lead rope. Standing on the opposite side probably shifted your center of balance enough that the gelding didn't feel crowded. I've noticed with my sister's pony that she'll only let you touch her left hind if you stand at her shoulder first. It's like they have their own little rules about personal space. Sometimes you gotta think like them instead of just trying to muscle through it.