Head Shy Mare

[jenfen]

Not sure if I should even be in this category cuz I'm horseless!! but today my neighbours mare ate out of my hand.. doesn't seem much BUT this is the mare i was bet 50 big ones i couldn't catch... had I known more bout NH at the time of the bet I would bought ye all a drink!! she's soooo sweet... just had her second foal (that I know of). Last years foal has just returned AND she remembered me which of course made my day!!!.. she'll just follow me around looking for a scratch.. anyway only reason im posting is cuz i wanna know if I did the right thing???.... when this head shy mare approached ME (she usually ran the other way!) and my hand and her lip touched, as soon as she ate the goodies i left her alone?!? as if to say well done u did the right thing........ is that okayyy?? OR is my interpretation way off (p.s. i know foods not spose to be a reward but i did need some incentive for her!) would love some feedback guys, thanks!!!

[Elaine]

Perfect. Let her come to you of her own accord, and this will keep increasing her confidence around you and she'll continue to get braver. Moving away once she approaches is rewarding her for coming to you, so by doing this she'll actually want to be around you more & will get curious. Once you've got her 'curious' you're well on the path to great progress! It reminds me of the first time Ozzie sniffed my hat of his own accord - another massive day!

WOOHOO WELL DONE!!!!!

50 euros huh?! You should have bet €100!

[jenfen]

Today as I approached the fence she greeted me with a lovely neigh and walked towards me... pretty good reaction thought to myself so I continued and swung my leg over. Along she came right up to me. Things got a little complicated then cause my doggie flasha (she's a sheepdog and I'm afraid she was in workmode) had joined me at this stage, she'd found an easier part of the fence for herself mind you! Mare went about her own thing (avoiding the scary dog) and instead of following her I walked down to the main gate and along comes mare and foalie after me.. I picked the gate cause I thought I'd have a better chance cause she gets fed from there. She's still looking at the dog and doesn't come back over to me 'til I sit on the ground petting Flash.. she comes pretty close, (ears are set on Flash) but by then I'm feeling a little vulnerable so I move to my next spot.. a tree in the middle of the field. Flash is just beyond me, this time mare takes her time but she still follows me up.. here it gets good.. everytime she came a step closer, i took a step back AND managed to get Flasha to do the same. she sat puzzled I'm sure! .. seconds/minutes later I'm not exactly sure, I had Flasha on the ground giving her a belly rub and the mare grazing right next to her. That went well until Flash jumped up and the two got their quota of fright for the day!!!... so not finishing on a bad note we went back to getting them all close and comfortable and then headed back home for lunch...

how therapeutic is this!!!