24th March, 2010 Dainty Davy?

This morning Dawn and I went to see a beautiful Trakhener cross for a loading session. It was a great opportunity for her to see another type of horse altogether and perhaps to celebrate the fact that Davy loads and travels well! The Trakhener horse, a grandson of Fleetwater Opposition, was very light to work with, amenable and polite. Nevertheless he was really frightened of the trailer. I was so impressed that he was always willing to try and was soon walking on and off even though he found it very difficult to actually stay on the trailer. The art is notice even the slightest try and to make absolutely sure that he gets a release from the mental pressure of being on there by allowing him to go off again. In this way he doesn't feel compelled to find his own release by rushing off. We were all nearly in tears when he began to pause in three distinct places of his own accord - once sideways on to the ramp (it's a rear facing trailer); once with his head over the front bar and once at the top of the ramp. On each occasion he could be rewarded with a lovely rub and a "goooood booooy". No point whatsoever in us slamming the doors shut or closing the ramp; lots more practice needed first.

Back at the fields, we took Davy out for another long walk, extending his comfort zone much further than we have before. Apart from a handful occasions when he pressed into Dawn with his shoulder, he was much calmer today and seemed very relaxed. He coped with the muddy going and waded through streams and ponds quite happily.

Finally I had a real struggle with Theoden today with the umbrella and the tarpaulin. I couldn't get him to leave them alone!!!