Hi Glen, I think it is just wonderful the way you are with your boy.
I just really hadn't thought that by being rhythmical etc. that you were showing him
" how to handle " Prince 's absence.
But, this sure does make sense.
If you only knew what the crazy thing was that had my family laughing in the funeral home, everyone would think I was morbid.
I talk to my buddies all the time. Animal and human that have crossed from this reality.
I just know they hear me,
I also have smelled them, seen them at times, sensed them and have had uncanny things come up.
I guess I am NUTS. At least I know I am not the only one
I started teaching Sid to target his front feet and his hind.
I saw him practicing on his own in the pasture....
with the salt block.
The snow has melted and now we are in the mud season. I had to keep the horses in for a couple days, they were full of it. I let each out in the arena to stretch their legs.
When it was Sids turn, he went running to the horse toy box. Grabbed the station, grabbed the hula hoops pulled them out into the arena...put the hula hoop over the station, then tried to target the station, which he broke.
Then he started targeting the broken pieces with his feet. OH my goodness......
Also, at the moment, the little man loves lateral movement......he is coming up with own...
He looks like a cat skittering sideways when he plays with the other horses. He is doing a full pass. He is toooo dang funny. I will see if I can get some video of him doing his own thing.
He is so silly.
Merlin, who I taught to retrieve 10 or 12 years ago, I cannot even remember now. To this day loves to retrieve.
I have been doing wild games with him to get him moving. He loves it, but it isn't real wild.
Well, yesterday, he did a retrieve that I hadn't requested, so I didn't reinforce it, just said oh that's nice......he was mad at me.
He picked up a bucket and threw it at me.
I just told him that he was crazier than me if he thought I was going to reward that little outburst..
I waited a minute or so then asked for polite, he responded and then I rewarded him for that.....he is a goofus too!!!
They all have their own personality and charm.
For those of us who really love the horse, our horses bring us what our spirit needs. I truly believe this.
Carrie