Burr!

A second visit to Jack and his owners today to see if we can make progress on Operation Burr Removal.  We began with the basics and then began to handle his legs with our hands. Once he realised we weren't going to haul the burrs off him, he settled down nicely and was much less defensive.

It was good to have Julie in tow, and having taught Jack not to tow, we were able to hold him while we worked. 

He was still paying great attention to what Julie did but not reacting to it in any way.

Now his young owner felt brave enough to touch his back legs herself while daddy, Billy, held him for her.

Before the break, I cheated a little by trimming his tail which removed some of the burrs.

And then I rubbed the entire contents of a bottle of baby lotion into his mane (not forelock), tail, and all down his legs. This meant that after the break we were able to remove some of the burrs and his owners will be able to continue - without pulling them too hard - over the next few days.