Today I decided to work on our trailer loading. Blossom is having lots of problems with this just now, so if I want to keep our training up through the winter months I will need to hire indoor schools so I need her to travel.
I started with just playing the seven games with her on the grass, she was quite full of herself so it took a good 20mins to settle her enough so she was listening to me.
When I approached the trailer, which was parked in the middle of the yard. I could feel Blossom getting nervous, so I turned and walk away. I done this several times until I felt she was confident enough to approach the trailer. We then started with playing the circling game over the ramp, she started by doing this really quick so her feet where hardly on the ramp then off again. The more we done it the calmer she was, and she started walking over the ramp in walk looking very confident. She was better to the left than she was to the right but that didn't surprise me and I was very happy with how well she was doing. So we then started squeezing over the ramp, she done this very well on both reins.
So I thought we should move on to trying to load.. When asked to go in the trailer she would stand with both front feet on the ramp, but lost all confidence if I asked for anymore. So I would leave her for a couple of minutes, then ask her to back of the ramp, then ask her forward again. I kept doing this until she was confidently standing with all four feet on the ramp, she would then stretch her neck out so her head was inside the trailer. This showed me that she was getting confident so I could then ask for more. So using the same method of approach and retreat we managed to get the front feet inside the trailer - this took her alot longer to get confident than I had expected but I gave her the time she needed and it paid off. It was really interesting to watch her as every time we got further in the trailer and she got confident she didn't want to leave that spot. Even trying to get her to go back I had to really go up my phases, then when I asked her to go in again she would think about going in further but then take a step back to her comfort spot again. So I just used a lot of approach and retreat until she was confident enough to go in a bit further. It really seemed to work as 2 hours later I had her loading in and out of the trailer! She wasn't 100% confident when she was right in so I would retreat after only 5 secs so she kept her confidence. I done this about 6 times maybe more before I called it a night. I hope the next time we play with this she will be more confident and it will take us less time to get the same result.
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4 comments:
Wow Leanne, not just the trailer loading but you've been doing some great imaginative play there with Blossom. It's great to read and you and Blossom's confidence comes across well in the Blog. Well done and keep it up. Be interesting to see how long it takes Blossom to load next time.
I've got this to do with Sol soon! he goes in, albeit a bit stubbornly in the usual manner so will be intersting to see what he makes of doing it PNH stle! lol.
Does your schedule next year go all year, all weekends? I hope not, it would be great to meet up in good weather at Bankhead with horses.
Speak soon
Shells
Hi Leanne -
Another thing you can do is just play the 7 Games using the trailer as an obstacle, and not ask them to load at all.
I do stuff like put front feet on ramp and ask HQs to yield a bit on the ground, or vice versa; sideways along side of trailer; back up to touch different parts of the trailer using various games; etc.
Quite often they will start just offering to go in. It's so cool, as then you get to say "okay" or "not yet". A complete change from what usually happens!
Have fun!
Kris
Hi Kris,
Thanks, some great ideas there!! I will try that the next time we play.
Thanks Leanne
Hi Shelley,
I have decided not to compete Blossom next year! So I hope to get to as many Parelli weekends with her as possible! I will still be competing Aicha as I have signed for a team and without me they can't ride. But we will hopefully be doing less next year, and I won't be trialing for Scotland teams so that will mean I won't be abroad as much!
Can't wait to hear how you get on with Solly, Im having great fun with Blossom! It's so interesting to watch her..
leanne
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