Ike is doing beautifully with everything he's asked. He can weave poles, be sent around trees, will walk either direction in a very sloppy circle around me at liberty. Stepping sideways both directions. Just really trying everything. He's pawing and not standing so I'm going to be working on him standing more than anything else without treating him. The hardest part about this is wanting him as a partner and trying to be soft with him while needing him to be respectful and accepting human leadership so being firm enough not to let him get away with things that he shouldn't be allowed to do. It's a balance I struggle with. I try not to be frustrated as I know horses are extremely keen to read our emotions and I want him making effort to progress. I look for rewarding the little things and trying to stay positive and keep sessions short and end on good notes and not micro manage him. I try to remember I can learn from him and I have to listen to carry a conversation instead of do all the talking. If I want him to see me as a friend, I have to be one. His feet get done tomorrow. Hoping he does really well. I mean REALLY hoping every day of handling his feet this past month means there's a noticeable difference in how he is. (In a good way)
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