Stuck!

More rug work this morning. Unfortunately we are confined to working in the stable at the moment because the weather is so windy, which is not really ideal for working with rugs!

So what I have been aiming for, is to get Faith used to the feeling of the rug on her back as she moves. The last thing I want is for her to have a panic at the feeling that something is ‘on’ her, or ‘chasing’ her.

I had actually intended to do this with the rug folded into thirds and just draped across her withers initially. However, I had it totally over her back, but undone at the front (there are no belly straps on this one, it is just a light cotton sheet), and she just happened to move her quarters over. So I thought that we would just use the moment, and I encouraged her with my body language to take a step forward.

Now normally she is very responsive to this, and would just take a step towards me, which is all I really wanted. However, glancing over my shoulder, I could see she wanted to, by the tiny tiny shift of her weight forward, but something seemed to stop her and she shifted her weight back again. I gestured for her to come forward again, and the same thing happened, and she began to look a bit tight around the mouth.

So I stepped towards her again and stood at her shoulder, stroking her neck and having a think. Then it dawned on me. I have so far been rewarding her for standing absolutely still as the rug goes on. Now I’m suddenly asking her to move, in one big chunk, the total opposite of what I have been asking her before. Cue slapping forehead with hand and rolling of eyes!

So we went back to doing something which she finds really really easy, and offers readily; picking up her front feet. The idea being that the shift in weight and slight movement will allow her to feel the rug moving with her slightly, and we will gradually begin to mobilize her under the rug, and ‘unstick’ her bit by bit.

I was delighted with this moment of daftness on my part, as it has now shown me how to break it down into smaller and smaller bits for Faith, and start the pendulum swinging the other way. I have to say, I had a grin a mile wide all over my face, and just felt so energised and inspired about this method of training. I love it, love it, LOVE IT!