Friday, February 15, 2013

bag of scare

I do not know what has gotten into Shyloh lately, but she is being hard to catch again. And to top it off, Shy is being super sassy about it with that head toss!

Once I finally caught her (peppermints are less and less effective), I put her to work. I had a plan.  I had a bag. 
bag of scares
In my bag, I had items that make lots of noises. 
Items of doom : 1. tub of candy from the movies 2. horn 3. paper bag of taffy 4. jingle bell 5. plastic bag 6. chain
I want Shy to be comfortable with noises coming out of nowhere that she cannot see. So I hooked her up in the indoor arena (did I ever mention is she amazingly still when being hooked?) and I took her around the arena. Her commands where spot on. 
Then I started with my noise makers. First I crinkled the paper bag with the salt water taffy in it. Shy acted like she didn't even hear it. So I shook the bag. Still nothing.

Next I took out the horn. I gave it a gentle honk, I really didn't want to flat out scare her. But the biggest reaction I got was a flick of the ears back on the noise. 

I took out the tub of candy and shook it. It was loud. Shy kept moving so I kept shaking. She finally stopped. She was probably wondering what the crazy person behind her was doing. With a "walk on", she continued on. 

I got the jingle bells out. I knew Shy wasn't afraid of these, she had worn them before. And I was right, jingle bells jingling behind her were not a problem. But then I got an idea. . .I remembered what had happened with a barn cat ran out in front of Shy one day when we were line driving. Shy got startled. So I tossed the jingle bell in front of Shy.

I knew she was going to be startled, but I was not expecting her reaction. . .let's just say that she stopped so hard that if I would have been riding in the cart I would have been launched forward, probably onto Shy's back and landed on one of those silver things (technical term) on her harness saddle. I don't want that. Sounds painful.

Instead, I was walking behind the cart and I ran into it. I wish I would have got that on video.

That was a big reaction, but not the worst reaction that I can think of. So what was the most logical thing to do next? Yup, get Shy moving and do it all over again. Hey, I had four jingle bells! Each time I tossed one (I threw them on both sides of her, too), her reaction was better and better. Plus, she was not scared of the actual bells and had no problem walking up to them as I steered her to pick them up and do it all over again. Just the sudden appearance of the bells in her line of vision was startling. I wouldn't even call it scary. 

To continue my session with Shy, I got out the chain and tapped it on the wood and metal parts of the cart. She didn't care. Plastic bag flapping? No worries. Jingle bells tossed ahead of her again? Super stop! I tossed all the jingle bells again and when Shy showed the slightest reaction, I ended the lesson. Each time she did stop, but the stop was less and less abrupt. So, now I know what we need to work on, mainly objects coming into her range of vision when she is not expecting it. I am thankful that she never tried to bolt!

19 comments:

  1. One thing that I heard from nuzzling muzzles (do you follow that blog? If not you should!) she has a SUPER hard to catch horse. What her trainer told her to do is that everytime she gets close to her horse, her horse runs away. So she throws the halter at the horse. After about two days of doing this, she stands quietly and waits for you to come get her. Obviously this could not work with your case, but it's an easy thing to try!

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    1. I do follow that blog :) I have never tried that method. I have tried every other method . . Shy could care less if I give other horses attention or treats, she actually wants me to walk away from her, and she would rather run from me for 2 hours than stand. She does most things on her terms. . .mare. Back when I first got her, it literally took 2 hours to catch her! She was giving me no problem for a few months, not sure why her panties are in a bunch over being caught now.

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  2. Those "silver things" are rein turrets and the water hook XD

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    1. I called them rein guides and I never knew the name of the center one. It is where I hook the overcheck when I use it.

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  3. Good work. Now you ned to line up some kids on skateboards and bikes to start shooting across her line of vision. (I'm kinda serious!)

    Can't give you any advice on the being hard to catch.... if she got really bad, you could try bringing some electric fencing tape (she's met electric fences, right?) and corral her into a corner so she has less space to get away from you. But its a difficult situation when she's boarded with a large group in a big space.

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    1. I want some kids to do that! That would be great!
      We have tried (6 of us, when I first got her) doing the corner thing. Shy's little legs are surprisingly fast when it benefits her. I am hoping this is just an effect of a few days of warmer weather.

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  4. This is a great reaction, stopping is infinitely preferable to running away, what a great pony! Your training techniques are brilliant, well done both of you :-)

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    1. Agreed!!
      Brilliant training techniques = coming up with some crazy stuff!

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  5. It is so much fun to 'ride with you' in the video! Thanks!

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    1. Soon, I'll get video of me in the cart and I'll take you all along with me. Soon. . .

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  6. Oh the dreaded bag of scare!! Well done Allison - you and Shy are making such good progress. :D

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  7. We have a super hard to catch pony! She is a real b***h to catch! However, as luck would have it, a couple of weeks ago, I was in the process of trying to catch her, when I suddenly thought.....ah stuff it! And began to walk away, she started to follow me?????
    So I stopped and didnt face her, sure enough, up behind me she came?? caught her a treat, so did it again and agian, since then? No probs.

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    1. Nice! Wish it was that simple with Shy. I walk away and she stays put. Pony is very stubborn!

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  8. This is so awesome, I love how she didn't react to all the noises and that it was just the things that came in to her vision that spooked her this is such good work and I also loved the video, I've always wanted to try driving :)

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  9. Why oh why do our humans like to "try" to scare us? Mom's given up on me and is now back to scaring Dad instead!

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    1. Haha! They don't want us to be scared when they are in a vulnerable position! Just how does your mom scare dad?

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  10. I am convinced that all Haflingers are born thinking that plastic bag sounds = TREATS.

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