To me, the most fascinating thing about working with, or getting, a new horse is all the "firsts" you get with them. Everything is new, and you are constantly learning more about your horse with every interaction. Over the last handful of days, I have gotten some really fun insight into how Wonder works, and how he thinks.
The #1 thing that I have noticed, is that he always seems to want to do the right thing. He seems to have very minimal training though, so he doesn't know what the right thing is. And he has the attention span of a gnat. However, he is friendly, and always wants to come over to you in the pasture. He is less of a fan of getting caught, but is always game for a scratch and cuddle. He leads well, but tends to be a little pushy about wanting to go where he wants to go, and as fast as he wants to get there. Poor kid was a little miffed that I shut that down really quick.
Also, I have found that Wonder will do anything for a peppermint. I mean anything. This seems like it is going to be a really good tool in my box of tricks with him. Of course, I want him to learn that he can do things without getting a peppermint - either as bribery or as a reward - but for now, it is proving useful. Twice I have gone to catch him and he is all sorts of game for it until he remembers that he actually has to do those awful things like standing still, paying attention, and having manners. And then he wants to "nope!" right outta there. But with a quick crinkle of a peppermint wrapper, he instantly returns and is easy to catch.
He had his first farrier appointment on Tuesday night, and I always hold my horses on my concrete driveway so it is a clean, flat spot for the farrier to work. Wonder was awfully unsure about getting on the concrete - he is not the first horse I've ever dealt with that thought concrete was going to kill them. I tried to coax him up a little bit, and he would set one foot up, and then firmly plant the other three - somewhere between scared and stubborn about getting on the concrete. If Charmer attempted something like that, I would simply just give him a sharp whack with the lead rope on the butt and make him get over himself. However, I've owned Charmer over 2.5 years, and have established a really good relationship with him. He knows I will not unnecessarily ask him to do things to put him in harms way, and he knows that I will only give him a whack if he is truly being naughty. With Wonder, I haven't even had him for a week, and I do not want to start out on the wrong foot with him. I'm trying to work on building a little more of a relationship, before I really get after him for some of his manners. So when he was unsure and needed some reassurance, all it took was a quick rustle of a peppermint wrapper before he walked up on the concrete easily.
During his farrier appointment, he was quite good for the part where he was actually getting his front feet trimmed (he didn't need his hinds done). But whenever the farrier comes out, he and I always have long conversations. He is a really nice guy and always loves to chat, which is one of the things I love about him! And he is the only farrier that I've ever had that actually willingly tells me things about my horse's feet. I find it all very fascinating. So after Wonder was done with his trim, he had to stand there and wait while the farrier and I chatted. Goodness gracious he did not like that. Granted, I was making him stand while it was dinner time, but I didn't really care - he needs to have nice ground manners anytime I feel like pulling him out. After about 20 minutes of chatting, Wonder finally sighed, and stood still for all of about 60 seconds, so I quickly stuffed 2 peppermints down his throat for being a good boy, and put him back. I was very careful to not ask too much of him, and watched and waited for when he was good, so he would be rewarded right away.
Wonder seems to be a quick learner, he just is unaware exactly what is being asked of him. He is definitely in need of quite a few ground manners, but I think he will come around to getting some of those very quickly.
The #1 thing that I have noticed, is that he always seems to want to do the right thing. He seems to have very minimal training though, so he doesn't know what the right thing is. And he has the attention span of a gnat. However, he is friendly, and always wants to come over to you in the pasture. He is less of a fan of getting caught, but is always game for a scratch and cuddle. He leads well, but tends to be a little pushy about wanting to go where he wants to go, and as fast as he wants to get there. Poor kid was a little miffed that I shut that down really quick.
Also, I have found that Wonder will do anything for a peppermint. I mean anything. This seems like it is going to be a really good tool in my box of tricks with him. Of course, I want him to learn that he can do things without getting a peppermint - either as bribery or as a reward - but for now, it is proving useful. Twice I have gone to catch him and he is all sorts of game for it until he remembers that he actually has to do those awful things like standing still, paying attention, and having manners. And then he wants to "nope!" right outta there. But with a quick crinkle of a peppermint wrapper, he instantly returns and is easy to catch.
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| "Peppermint, please?!" |
He had his first farrier appointment on Tuesday night, and I always hold my horses on my concrete driveway so it is a clean, flat spot for the farrier to work. Wonder was awfully unsure about getting on the concrete - he is not the first horse I've ever dealt with that thought concrete was going to kill them. I tried to coax him up a little bit, and he would set one foot up, and then firmly plant the other three - somewhere between scared and stubborn about getting on the concrete. If Charmer attempted something like that, I would simply just give him a sharp whack with the lead rope on the butt and make him get over himself. However, I've owned Charmer over 2.5 years, and have established a really good relationship with him. He knows I will not unnecessarily ask him to do things to put him in harms way, and he knows that I will only give him a whack if he is truly being naughty. With Wonder, I haven't even had him for a week, and I do not want to start out on the wrong foot with him. I'm trying to work on building a little more of a relationship, before I really get after him for some of his manners. So when he was unsure and needed some reassurance, all it took was a quick rustle of a peppermint wrapper before he walked up on the concrete easily.
During his farrier appointment, he was quite good for the part where he was actually getting his front feet trimmed (he didn't need his hinds done). But whenever the farrier comes out, he and I always have long conversations. He is a really nice guy and always loves to chat, which is one of the things I love about him! And he is the only farrier that I've ever had that actually willingly tells me things about my horse's feet. I find it all very fascinating. So after Wonder was done with his trim, he had to stand there and wait while the farrier and I chatted. Goodness gracious he did not like that. Granted, I was making him stand while it was dinner time, but I didn't really care - he needs to have nice ground manners anytime I feel like pulling him out. After about 20 minutes of chatting, Wonder finally sighed, and stood still for all of about 60 seconds, so I quickly stuffed 2 peppermints down his throat for being a good boy, and put him back. I was very careful to not ask too much of him, and watched and waited for when he was good, so he would be rewarded right away.
Wonder seems to be a quick learner, he just is unaware exactly what is being asked of him. He is definitely in need of quite a few ground manners, but I think he will come around to getting some of those very quickly.
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| Looking forward to riding that trot |
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