Bites

It was a cold and windy Saturday. Much windier than usual. At about four-thirty in the afternoon I arrived at the new barn and grabbed up Feather's halter and lead. As with the previous times, she didn't want to be caught. I got her somewhat cornered in the shelter and had her stopped with the lead around her neck, but *every time* I lifted the halter she turned her head away. Which makes it really difficult when you don't have four hands!

Five minutes of her game and still no results. Finally she let me halter her when MiniOwner brought her hay down. (And no, Feather did not get to eat until after we were done working.)

Once haltered, Feather behaved decently. She didn't mind the wind at all, which was a nice surprise; but I didn't feel she would follow me without the lead, and thus didn't attempt it. A bit annoying that I haven't been able to do what I did awhile ago with her lately, but ah well. We've returned to a slow start and reviewing the basics.

Since it seemed Feather felt unwilling to do all I asked of her, we didn't do anything extreme. I led her up and down the slight hill, occasionally halting her and squaring her up. She still doesn't like it when I first reach for her lips to "show teeth", but that doesn't worry me.

Things had been going fine until I stopped her and was asking her to back. She had remembered that hay, lovely sweet hay, waiting for her in the feeder, and wanted to go pay it a visit instead of backing for me. She became mad and impatient and decided the best way to deal with that was to bite the side of my jeans!

It didn't hurt much, but as soon as my brain registered what happened she got a firm "no" and a slap on the jaw. Yes, it's not the kindest, but if a horse doesn't receive discipline for things like biting the horse will start to walk all over humans. Obviously I don't want that happening with this yearling!

After she realized biting was the wrong answer, she still backed for me. Even after being disciplined she still should do what I had asked her to, so I re-asked and she did it (yay!).

Following that we did more leading, halting, and backing. She bit my jacket sleeve twice in an attempt to let me let her go eat sooner. Didn't work! Both times she got in trouble for it and also did what I had asked of her.

I'm really hoping things will go better for us this Tuesday. I don't mind the biting much (that should be simple to fix), but it kinda sucks when she doesn't listen and I feel we're not progressing much. On the other hand, she's a yearling, has a short attention span, and could have been having a bad day. That doesn't give reason for her to bite, but does offer a few possible reasons the last training sessions haven't been amazing.

Planning to keep things slow again this next time, but hopefully we can work on showing teeth and working with her hooves. Wish me luck!