We got Megan in July and have been working with her since then. We started with essentially a wild horse that had basically no human interaction for over two years. I thought from the start that we had something special that we were getting and today, I think I finally found out what exactly that "Something Special" was.
Megan has challenged me every step of the way since day one, she has ultimately been the top dog, alpha horse and lead mare up until today. Something happened today that I will try to explain but may take some time.
We went through the regular catching routine, desensitizing and sensitizing working the feet and trying to break through that thick skull and into the brain. Once I see Megan drops her head, I know I can safely proceed with cleaning hooves, more advanced movements and training techniques. Today I did just that and got the same as usual results, which compared to two months ago is amazing but still not getting into the horse's brain.
I finished cleaning her hoof taking dead tissue from around the abscess area, making sure nothing will be getting into the hoof, I then went on to fitting and securing the Duct Tape pads to her front left hoof to keep the remaining abscess hole clean and mostly dry for the day. I started to work with her a little more and found that after 10 minutes of working with her, I saw something that I would consider a breakthrough. She let down all guards, trusting my judgment and followed my every movement and direction from one end of the corral to the other, around and over obstacles all while moving her feet in every direction possible without reaction of flight or fight.
The moment I noticed what was happening I got a little curious as to what I was seeing and was it true. I stepped in front and faced her, she stopped, I moved a step to the left, then to the right (sorry, not Rocky Horror) and she tracked me in her every move and would not let me get more than a half step around to her side or away without her making adjustments to her feet and keeping me in her total vision and focus where nothing else mattered. I found what makes her tick, FINALLY!
Do not drive her, do not whip her, do not push her... but Direct her and Allow her to follow and do what comes naturally for her. Be Megan the Horse!
She took my direction, did everything I asked her to do, all while Megan gave me total control and respect. Don't get me wrong, tomorrow could be back to the same beating my head against the stall door and using pressure to get her to do what I ask, but as far as today goes.... It was amazing!
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