It was certainly damp when Ruth and I worked with Prince this morning, but he didn't seem to mind. Despite having been ill for a few days, Ruth has continued to nibble her way around all of the issues that Prince has about being with people - touch, equipment, things dangling, and so on. However, if you pardon the mixed metaphors, she still has some pieces of the jigsaw that she must complete before she can move forward. For example, she needs to find a touch that leaves him always wanting more - deep, flat, touch that reaches his soul and not just his skin.
I was able to give her some other tips which should make her life easier, for example, holding the scarf so that there is no tension in it - holding one end on one hand while working with the other. Let's see if I can illustrate.
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| Only half of the scarf is available here to post over his neck, so one sideways move will take it off |
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| The whole scarf is available here so if Ruth can get it posted over his neck it can be 'balanced' and will remain in place if he takes a few steps away |
It may be that we have to get him into a smaller enclosure in order to put the headcollar on in the end - as it is, he can just walk away if he feels that something it too much. I don't believe that he is either naughty, or 'taking the mick'. He is still frightened of that moment when he is constrained by the halter/headcollar and extremely worried about his ears. This was exemplified by all the yawning he did after some concentrated work. We just don't know what has happened in the past.
What is clear is that Ruth is the only person (as yet) who has the key or combination code to reach this pony. One day, after he has been caught, we hope that he will generalise his trust, but for now, Ruth is his person.
