Zero Tension

After yesterday's bad sessions, I WAS NOT planning on going there today. I wasn't even sure if I should have played with him or not. After struggling with trying to adjust an old dog harness that had been out in the dirt for some time, and walking a German Shepherd puppy that we rescued that pulled the whole time, and cleaning out all of the stalls, I played with Tug. I realized sometime before the fall, that after I did some barn chores, our session seemed to go better. So today, there was no tension in my body at all. I accidentally popped his mouth when he reached for a carrot though. I felt so bad. But Sugar kept coming back after I drove her away and that's when I turned around to pet Tug and it happened. He didn't take it personally, but I just don't know where it came from! I don't remember the last time I ever smacked a horse! Oh I felt horrible!

I put 2 barrels parallel to a crosstie on the ground and separated them by about 2 feet. I hoped he'd jump them, but I knew he wouldn't so that's why I separated them. I did approach and retreat with circling to the right and it must have paid off and gained his confidence. The first 2 times, he only went about 1/4 of the way around. Once he stopped, I sent him to the left, and so on. The third time of this, he made it all the way around!!! YEAH! Then I set 2 cones up side by side and asked him to go sideways over them. That was the first time I had asked him to go over something so tall (my cones are large) and he had no problem. Going to the right is harder for him, but I tried for sideways from zone 1 over them going to the right. After a little persistance, he did it. He looked down at them like, "Hmmmm, that was different!"

So I guess I should just start doing chores before I play with him.