20th October, 2009 Log fires and electric blankets

Yes, it appears to be that time of year again. Still, yesterday I had a lovely day with my own horses catching up with their news. I spent time with Jack and Cello desensitising them to a syringe so that they will cope better with a real injection on Thursday when poor Cello is due to be gelded and Jack is having his second tetanus injection. I also started work on Razzledazzle who has come in for pre-starting. Having checked out his groundwork, I took him for walk in the forest to start to expand his comfort zone and get him enjoying himself.

Today he went out again in the company of Jim The Fireman who had come over to get some hands on horsework. As he says, he usually only meets horses on the worst day of their life when they are trapped in some muddy ditch or stuck in a gate. Raz coped with all natural obstacles out on the Forest and was very well behaved. I then asked Jim to mock inject Jack in exchange for a click and a treat (for Jack not Jim) before going on to do some useful loading practice with Chancer and Petra. For Chancer we used the standard Dually halter and for Petra we used the forward assist strops and it became clear that we both rely on pressure and release. Hampshire Animal Rescue Service are very hot on their horse psychology but hopefully I have added one or two useful techniques to their repertoire.