Some friends of mine came over to see
Jackson so I got him out to show them what
we have been working on. I probably had him
out for a little over an hour. What a day!
Jackson had some huge improvements and some
surprises!
I started out asking Jackson to move around
the round pen with his head low. He made
huge progress from yesterday. He immediately
started lowering his head and moving forward
at the walk and trot, going in both
directions. Have I mentioned that I love
clicker training?! Now I just have to put it
on cue. That is the next project.
Jackson offered lots of front crunches. I
only rewarded those that were closer to the
obeisance, with his head lower between his
front legs. He got better at offering that
than just a plain front crunch. I have
previously wanted him to do that, but he
never showed much interest. Now he is
offering it on his own! It will be looking
nicer with a little work.
Then came the surprise. While he was
offering his front crunches/obeisance, he
tucked his right front leg in a little bit,
almost a bow. Click,treat! He did it again!
Click, treat. Then he did it with both front
legs! Click, treat. Then he stopped and
thought about it. When I usually ask him to
bow or lay down, I am always on his right
side. When he was offering these, I was
standing on his left! Keep in mind that I
wasn’t cueing him at all. Except with the
clicker, of course. Then he went down on one
knee again. Click, treat. Then he went down
on the one knee and laid down! Click, lots
of treats! He stayed laying down for a
little bit while I gave him lots of treats!
He got up then and I didn’t ask him for more
of that. We will have to see what he does
next time.
Then Jackson made some huge progress with
his rear. He reared up very high (on cue)
and held it. He even took a couple of steps!
He would wave his front legs. I know that on
AND, some don’t want a horse rearing like
that, and I understand. But that rear is
something I have been working towards for a
year! I am so happy.
We also did a little sitting. Jackson sat on
the edge of the hay bale again and nearly
ended up sitting on the floor! Oh well, he
was very calm about everything.
I did a short session training Sadeem to sit
on the hay bales. He does very well leaning
on the hay, but isn’t sitting yet. I do see
him as getting a little better each time,
which is good enough for me. I don’t think
it would take more than 5 more sessions for
him to sit.
