Lessons from a Horse Named Joy

Recently we pulled a horse from the back field, where she had been free to run with several other horses for the past few years. There were no rules to follow back in that field, other than those of the herd. She was free to be a horse. A week before she was to go to a new home, we decided it would be good idea for her to get used to hanging out with humans again, brush up on her training, etc.. This young mare was born here and socialized from the start. Our attention had to go elsewhere the past few years, but we figured it would be easy enough to polish her up a bit.

Now is probably a good time to insert that letting a horse run wild, especially a mare, super-especially a dominant mare, is a bad idea. 

Lesson learned. 

One week turned into two as my mom and i took turns working with her, regaining her trust and letting her get to know us again. Then came trailer-loading time, the first for this young mare.

What a nightmare. It was tough.

After two LONG days of coaxing, pulling, pushing, walking, a pulled shoulder (me), a tumble backwards (her), and a bit of yelling (both of us) she finally stepped into that trailer.

Here are a few lessons Joy was so kind to remind of me along the way.

• When you can't find a solution, continue trying until you have exhausted your ideas, your resources and yourself. Take a rest, then use someone else's resources, or just someone else.
• Be quick to notice if something isn't working and switch to a different approach.
• Every interaction means something and affects the relationship.
• Taking a break is not the same as quitting.
• Sometimes breaks are a bad idea.
• Positive reinforcement must be timed just right - otherwise all involved get confused and cranky.
• Body language and attitude communicate more than words. 
• Voice tone matters.
• Always end a lesson on a good note, when some type of progress has been made, no matter how minor or seemingly insignificant. 
• Horses are not above bribery (a good reason to keep food nearby at all times).
• Hang.On.To.The.Rope.
• Good things come to those who work. 
• When all else fails, sedate.

Thanks, Joy, for the refresher course in (common) horse sense. I hope you gained something from the experience, too, and that you load safely and easily for the rest of your sweet equine life.