A sunny visit from Highland pony Shay today who had a twenty minute break in our round pen before being asked to load to go home again. He loads beautifully at home these days but is inclined to refuse on the way back. Just when you think that clicker may be the be all and end all, here's a pony that proves you can get everything right but treats are not sufficient incentive by themselves to get him to go in. He has developed one or two little postponing strategies that are working well for him including backing up after he has come forward for his treat. Today I used pressure to insist that he gave me his full attention and to clarify that when I asked him to move, he should move. After a short while he was loading over and over again and so we need to check this is still the case in a few more weeks time.
