Marina wrote:
Thats such a great outcome iidala
[...]
Any other thoughts/ideas??
Study how horses in herd behave toward each other to fight, play, boss.
Then don't do those things. Don't act like a herd buddy. (Very tough not to if you are following AND)
Study what Mother Mares
(TM) do when foals are small. Beware those things the mare does that are the same as the bossy, playful, and aggressive. Watch her softer communication.
I was going to suggest that you raise your hand and arm and wave it in an arc, as that is the boss posture, but it is also, as always with "boss," postures, an invitation to challenge the users' authority. In other words, a fight behavior.
I happen to use it, but my horses understand we are not to aggress and I in fact AM the boss horse. Not AND but practical in I believe both will outlive me and move on to other owners. I AND when I can, otherwise I condition and Rituals (but only as I know them, not like Jocelyne who is becoming so much more proficient in them.
I know though that approach retreat is often very effective. It's quite operant conditioning in concept and execution when done correctly. My horse wants to approach, and in a manner I do not want, such as mugging my pockets and hands. I move away and the instant he or she complies by showing they are stopping, I move toward them again. I initiate contact.
Not police, not good manners, but the horse started it first.
We have lots of ways of talking about these things, and while the connection might not seem obvious between them (approach retreat, and some say "go away from the horse") it's still the same concept.
I think we stress too that one study and respond to the individual horse. Some are so sensitive that going away would depress them. So I, if I owned such a horse, (my dog is like this) I would very quickly return and reward, hug, trade breath, scratch, etc. when they complied. I get nervous when I read about someone working with a horse over some problem and the horse goes off in the distance and stands and sulks.
I firmly believe, for instance, that the horse needs to be close enough, if we are interacting as in a relationship, to smell me, and in crises to have my breath if he needs it. So I offer it even when I'm not sure.
Bonnie usually is very excited to get out of her stall. I ask her not to come roaring out of her stall (I worry she will bang a hip on the steel frame, or trample my dog or me), so I offer her my breath, (well,
I ask her for a little soft nostril kiss) and while I breath close to her nostril I think about calmness and walking quietly out of the stall.
I had not meant it to "train," but then in good relationships we learn to manage our behaviors so that we don't upset and offend our partner/friend/companion/loved one. Bonnie now waits quietly and comes out slowly and softly.
Weird though. As Altea becomes more healthy she is turning into a "Bonnie," all energy and rushing about. It's so wonderful to see I don't do anything with it other than to stay out of her way when she's excited. I've plenty of time to do calming work with her later - for now her behavior is so welcome I could hug her for it (I do, of course). Besides, as a socialized adult she is pretty careful not to run into me or trample the dog.
Donald