The shape of things to come.

I actually wrote a shaping plan today. Seriously that is a big deal for me. There was a time when I swore that’ life was too short’ for shaping plans. Well, no longer. I have decided that to address the ‘issue’ of Faith’s near hind, I need to be scrupulously thorough, and make sure that she is absolutely comfortable every tiny step of the way.

I would put it on here, but I have left it in the tack room. However, step one was that she should be completely comfortable with being loose on the yard, and me running my hands all over her.

Now I think that is not a bad first step, and an important thing to do in any case. So tonight that is what we did. She mooched around the yard quite happily, had a chat with Tilly and Tommy over their stable doors, and let me scratch and rub her all over. I discovered a new groomy itchy spot on her tummy, and she was even happy to let me rub up and down her legs, and even handle her teats. Of course this was accompanied with lots of wither scratches and bits of carrots. Eventually we had to retire back to the stable for a nice groom, as the midges were out in force this morning, and they seem to love munching the tops of my ears, as well as bothering Faith.

Faith even offered her near hind to me a couple of times. However, I didn’t yet take her up on it, just rewarded her for lifting it slightly for me. Even though I have not yet started to use the clicker, i am attempting in my own way to shape anti-mugging behaviour by only giving her a treat when she is facing ahead, never when she has her head turned towards me. So far it is ‘working a treat’, if you will pardon the pun.

Mum came to watch us at work this evening which is really nice. Mum is Faith’s co-owner, and Faith is the second horse of her dreams, her first being Schivago, her wonderful Anglo Arab Gelding who sadly had to be PTS when I was about 10 years old. It is important to me that Mum gets to enjoy Faith’s company as much as I do, as she has really fallen head over heels in love with this wonderful filly. Mum’s views on horse management are very traditional, however, she is being really supportive of my intentions for Faith’s training, and in doing so, she is taking a bit of a leap of faith herself. I really appreciate her efforts in doing this. I have been through this conceptual leap myself, and it isn’t comfortable, so I am really grateful that Mum is making the effort to support me in what I am doing, even though it goes against the grain for her to do so.