As I mentioned in a previous post, after one of our team was injured, we bought a replacement horse. He was a 10 year old, and supposedly well trained, but I honestly don't know much about his history. His problem was that he had learned his strength and how to push folks around. As you all know, that's the last thing you want a 2000 lb 18+ hand horse to learn. I am not a very big woman, so I must demand respect from all animals, but I certainly can't force it by man-handling, which I suspect had been done quite a bit based on how he tested everything with me to see if I would "make" him. The firstU 2weeks, I couldn't even lead him from point a to point b without him deciding point c sounded better and dragging me along with him (usually at a fast trot). If I pushed him to do anything he didn't like, he would ram through my fences. If I separated him from my other horse, he would attempt to bust the stall wall down. If I tied him, he would pop the snap on the lead or the hooks right out of the wall. He tested everything! This was clearly not new behavior. Draft or not, this boy had learned what he was capable of. The good thing about him was that he did know how to lean into a collar and pull (he just didn't know how to stop), and he wasn't really bothered or nervous about anything. That was probably a life saver in those early days. He was just used to getting his way when he wanted it and had no respect for me or my husband at all.

I quickly introduced him to the concepts of "the right thing is easy, but the wrong thing is uncomfortable." I didn't tie him unless there were two ropes, as a back up if he broke the first. We lined everything with electric wire and ensured he got introduced to it a few times. I also taught him to Move his feet instead of mine when he was acting testy. He isn't perfect, but his level of respect has improved tremendously. I'm actually quite proud of how we have improved, and he has done a lot to build my confidence in working with the big drafts. My 8 year old daughter can now lead him around, lift his feet, and do what she needs, as he is becoming much more sensitive and soft (though I still never trust him completely--bad habits can have deep roots!). He hasn't broken a fence or even pulled back on a lead rope in some time now, and even stops Most of the time when told--still working on that one.

I say all that to point out his passing of a major, if unexpected, test this evening. These boys are the biggest babies regarding horse flies, and those little pests will send them Running, bucking, and kicking every time. This eve, I needed to walk 2 of the horses (including this one) about 1/3 mile to another pasture. The flies didn't seem too bad till I got to far to turn back, and then they seemed to just swarm us. My younger horse, though clearly uncomfortable and dancing, was as respectful as always. This horse I described however had 3 occasions when a fly landed on him, and his eye said he was going to bolt, he jumped to end of his lead, and then stopped and minded his manners. I am just elated! So different from when I first got him. We must have killed 20 horse flies in a 10 minute period. They were awful! I've never experienced that before. But we all survived it, and he used the thinking, respectful side of his brain. I love it when hard work pays off!

Congrats on a job well done!

It always feels good when you can look back at where you started and see how far you've come. That's good progress.

Have walked in your shoes very recently. The result is a horse that is worth his weight in gold. Good for you!

Barb