the big scary

Stick. Look at it. It reeks evilness. It was clearly about to transform into a mountain lion, or worse, the minute a horse gets within feet of the stick. It was purely wicked. How any horse could let that stick come near them was beyond Shyloh, it was the scariest thing in the whole arena! 

Could be a magic wand? No. . .

I held this stick in my hand and said touch. I had my clicker and a cut up carrot at the ready. Shy had been great about touching anything. But this stick was the exception. I said touch again. Shy walked around the arena and touched everything we previously touched in previous days. It was cute and quite smart of her, but not what I was asking.

Shy would not touch the stick. I tossed it on the ground. Shy tentatively walked up to it and touched it. Click and treat. After a few touches with the stick on the ground, it became clear that this was the only way she would touch it.  I tried various ways to get her to touch the stick while I was holding it. 

Shy can shake her halter and lead rope, but not touch the stick.

I put it on the ground and said touch. She did, so I clicked. As I was treating I bent down to pick up the stick and Shy trotted away. I dropped the stick and tried again. Next time, she touched the stick, I clicked, and she didn't even wait for the carrot. She was off! I tried following her with the stick to give her the carrot. No luck. I tried for a while to get her to touch this stick. She would circle me. She would stand behind me. She went off and touched things that she has gotten treats for touching before. Shy refused to touch the stick if I had it in my hand, even if it was pointed to the ground.

Not coming any closer.

So I went to my last resort and put her halter back on and attached the lead. We worked on getting closer and closer to the stick. I picked it up. Shy tried to walk off, but couldn't. She didn't fight it, though. I could tell she was scared, but she was trusting me to not let her get hurt. I held the stick out. I said touch. Very very gently, Shy lengthened her neck and stretched her lips all the way out to the big scary stick. She barely grazed it, but I clicked and treated. We did this a few times until she was comfortable with the stick and even put it in her mouth. 

Whew. We overcame the stick! It was not evil after all. It was just a simple stick. Not magical in any way. Not about to shapeshift into a ferocious velociraptor. Not evil. Just a stick that a horse, who is much bigger than it, can over take with a little patience and some treats.

As a plus, Shy finished her Hanging Ball. I was able to get most of the sticky off her face with some warm water and paper towel. I think she was relieved that it was coming off because she let scrub her face. It might have been pulling on her beard hairs, but if not, it was still cemented in there pretty good. I think the next Hanging Ball will have to wait until summertime, when I can give her a bath!

Brown nose is gone!