pelena
Well-Known Member
Absolutely brilliant session with Richard Maxwell today. The man really deserves his reputation (as well as being a genuinely nice bloke).
After casting him a few suspicious glances, P (my mare) responded very well. The method he uses really suits her (and I suspect most horses) as shes too clever for her own good, and is adept at finding numerous ways to throw her toys out of the pram. Once she masters something though, she is very pleased with herself.
It didnt take him long to get her on at first, though she threw a couple of epic strops (the waving both front feet kind.....) She soon got the hang of it, and more importantly, after a while stopped being wound up whilst in the trailer. (To be honest, had she walked up the ramp straightaway, I might have turned her into glue....)
After a break we worked on loading her in the car park (idea is that it creates a second day effect- previously had been loading from the lunge arena), with lots of noise, the farrier next door, etc... Again, fab results.
Both my sharer and I worked with her with great success (also overcoming a couple of strops which I think is important). Horse, sharer and I learnt an awful lot. His methods make total sense and he does have a great sense of timing, and explains everything very thoroughly.
All in all, worth every penny. Bring on the homework now!
After casting him a few suspicious glances, P (my mare) responded very well. The method he uses really suits her (and I suspect most horses) as shes too clever for her own good, and is adept at finding numerous ways to throw her toys out of the pram. Once she masters something though, she is very pleased with herself.
It didnt take him long to get her on at first, though she threw a couple of epic strops (the waving both front feet kind.....) She soon got the hang of it, and more importantly, after a while stopped being wound up whilst in the trailer. (To be honest, had she walked up the ramp straightaway, I might have turned her into glue....)
After a break we worked on loading her in the car park (idea is that it creates a second day effect- previously had been loading from the lunge arena), with lots of noise, the farrier next door, etc... Again, fab results.
Both my sharer and I worked with her with great success (also overcoming a couple of strops which I think is important). Horse, sharer and I learnt an awful lot. His methods make total sense and he does have a great sense of timing, and explains everything very thoroughly.
All in all, worth every penny. Bring on the homework now!