Training through the Art of Mime

Another uneventful evening on the yard tonight (just how I like it!). Well I say uneventful, there were no heart-stopping startles, and lots of generally relaxed grooming and hoof-picking-up.

However, I have noticed that Faith is very, very subtly trying to move me around with her shoulders. It is too subtle to say that she is being bargy or pushy, or even getting ‘big’ with her shoulder. It is just a very minute invasion of my space, as if she is just trying to ascertain if she can move me around.

Now Faith is a very sensitive horse, and we are obviously still in the early stages of relationship building, and the last thing I want to do is anything that will frighten her, or anything that she will perceive as punishment. Yet on the other hand, I do not expect to be able to walk into her space without her consent, and I expect the same consideration from her.

So my current solution to the problem is to do a very passable impression of Marcel Marceau, and his ‘glass wall’ mime. I put both hands up in front of me with my elbows bent, as if on a glass wall. I make sure to keep my energy low, and I do not look directly at her. So there is no ‘pushing’ of energy, just the setting up of a barrier, that can be removed as quickly as it goes up.

So far, this has worked really well, and she has stepped back out of my space, or stopped in her tracks, yet still looking relaxed and not at all offended.

Just need to find some greasepaint and white gloves to complete the look!