I'm trying to prepare for Florida, which means TONS of work on my trailer to get it in tip-top shape for the trip, and planning the route, getting Pistol ready to stay in the trailer, getting Pistol in shape, getting myself in shape... the list goes on! Luckily though everything I've been doing has really been resonating with Pistol, and our bond is getting even better. He's become such a gentleman in the few short months I've had him. Everyone that has come over has noticed how even in a week's worth of time, he gets even more polite and soft. He hasn't lost any of his exuberance, but he is no longer so "bratty" all the time. He seems to have finally decided that it is ok to work with me, instead of against me. Looks like all my passive persistence paid off! He has gone from saying NOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!! all the time to saying "Oh, did you want me to put my hoof over there? Should I put my nose on it? How about I jump it instead?", which is WONDERFUL. Its so awesome to see him transforming into the really sweet horse I knew was in there. He really is becoming a partner, and I have a feeling that we will be able to work on our freestyle pretty soon.
On another note, my friend came over again to work on trailer loading, and she commented that he was a completely different horse from the last time she was over. He still has lots of tricks, but yesterday was more introverted about the trailer (I dont want to, so I'll just stand here like a tank, just MAKE me move) instead of extroverted(You cant make me, you cant catch me, if you even LOOK at me I'll buck!). But also, along with being more introverted about it, he was still MUCH more polite. No more kicking, bucking, rearing, or biting. He still wouldnt get all 4 feet in the trailer with my friend there, but he has done it before, so we discussed what I need to do to teach him about the butt bar and door. Also, next time she will bring her horse, so we can play together. That should be interesting for Pistol, since he is the only horse on the ranch right now, and this is HIS turf, and he is usually very dominant. Also, he hasn't seen another horse in 3 months. I wanted to be able to take him to work with me a lot, so he would have the socialization with other horses, but he had other plans. Apparently he is fine being an only child! :D But I'm trying to get him used to anything and everything that he will encounter on the way to florida, and on the ranch in florida. I wouldnt be doing my job as his partner if I didnt play with him while other horses were being played with, or trailer load him with other horses/people around or anything else that might happen while we are travelling and living on the ranch.
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