Tuesday September 1st, 2009
Although fall doesn't officially start until the 22nd, it feels like it has already arrived here in Massachusetts. The stall fans have not been turned on in days and all of my animals, even the pig, have begun to change coats. Wonder is no exception and his woolly hair comes out just as easily with my hand as a curry.Winter here means less training time for those of us without an indoor and I realize I need to step up my training efforts before it arrives.
Unfortunately, today is a very long work day so we opt for something short and simple. I turned Wonder out in the dirt paddock and tossed several grain bags in for him to explore and play with while I mucked the shed. The bags had barely landed on the ground and Wonder was already on his way to check them out. After a thorough investigation, he seemed to determine that they no longer held any grain and beyond that, they would be boring playmates. He then went back to his hay.
Before leaving the paddock, I grabbed a grain bag and began to run it over his back and withers, moving with him when he retreated and stopping to praise and remove it when he stopped. In just a few minutes I could stand on either side and rub him with the noisy bag while he stood calmly, enjoying the attention. Another day, when time permits, I will progress to his legs and head.
Although fall doesn't officially start until the 22nd, it feels like it has already arrived here in Massachusetts. The stall fans have not been turned on in days and all of my animals, even the pig, have begun to change coats. Wonder is no exception and his woolly hair comes out just as easily with my hand as a curry.Winter here means less training time for those of us without an indoor and I realize I need to step up my training efforts before it arrives.
Unfortunately, today is a very long work day so we opt for something short and simple. I turned Wonder out in the dirt paddock and tossed several grain bags in for him to explore and play with while I mucked the shed. The bags had barely landed on the ground and Wonder was already on his way to check them out. After a thorough investigation, he seemed to determine that they no longer held any grain and beyond that, they would be boring playmates. He then went back to his hay.
Before leaving the paddock, I grabbed a grain bag and began to run it over his back and withers, moving with him when he retreated and stopping to praise and remove it when he stopped. In just a few minutes I could stand on either side and rub him with the noisy bag while he stood calmly, enjoying the attention. Another day, when time permits, I will progress to his legs and head.
