It’s been quite a while since I updated on Dutton. We have honestly been going at his own pace and with that freedom he’s thriving. Tonight we decided to push the trust and see how a ponying ride went. It took him a moment to figure out what was expected, but then he was fantastic!
Dutton had his first off property adventure!
He rocked:
-loading up/trailering to lake free
-unloading and hitting the muddy trails
-me getting us lost for a solid 2 miles
-having to navigate non-existant trails (he did inquire about the available green snack options for his effort 😂)
-walking across rather deep mud in the overflow area of the lake when I finally figured out how to get where we were going
-strangers yelling at him about how handsome he was
-a decent sized ribbon snake crossing in front of us
-my asking constantly for us to stop so I could stand beside and pet both sides of him all the way back to the doc of his tail
-Vehicles passing 2/3 times (the one was a justified concern, dude was too close)
-having a BLAST showing off his goofy side in the lake
-my requesting annoyingly that he walk beside, not behind me
-being hosed for the first time
-getting back on the trailer and letting me put him in the actual slant slot so I could close the trailer up (I was the only human on the adventure)
-unloading at home!
I am over the moon with how today’s trip went. The positive reinforcement training (side note- when you constantly see me giving him food in the videos it is just alfalfa pellets that would otherwise be with his grain- no cookie monsters in the making here) has really felt like it’s been going well and that we were on the cusp of him building to higher and higher levels of trust—- today showed that off!! ❤️
#trainarescuechallenge #mhrdutton #safehorseproject #positivereinforcementtraining
Ok, so this clip is in the 2 month update, but that’s a long video and this made me giggle at him too much to risk it not being seen 😂 #mhrdutton #trainarescuechallenge #safehorseproject #kingofthehill
Long overdo 2 month update-
When I picked Dutton I knew that he was lacking a massive amount of trust- month 2 has just reiterated that fact. In his description it was noted that he came here from out west to be a quick flip for a trainer who quickly discovered that Dutton does things in his own time and rushing him is strongly against everyone’s best interest. That negative time is showing through distinctly right now- which is fine.
This month we have mastered new obstacles, loading, going through water, meeting new friends, dealing with dogs, and tying (nearly).
What have we found difficult? Pretty much anything that would be the introduction for riding- catching in the field, picking up feet/touching his legs without very strong and swift objections, and anything resembling starting to have pressure for a girth.
Dutton doesn’t bat an eye at things that I’ve seen seasoned trail horses have a tantrum over, but things that seem so super simple are immediate stressors for him. Thankfully, that stressor no longer results in an immediate fight/flight response- thanks to R+ training that he’s being exposed to (With guidance from Greenwalt Equine) he now will come back for the reassurance that he’s not going to die.
So, basically— to many many folks this is a boring 2 month update that looks like we’ve gotten no where in the time we’ve had, but to me Dutton is traveling well on his own timeline and undoing the damage that force has caused in the past. We will continue to go at the pace he needs because on a horse like him, he just needs time and patience.
#mhrdutton #trainarescuechallenge
Some work establishing more comfort this evening
I owe a big big update, but here’s a little one that felt MASSIVE.
Dutton is a different horse with the halter on vs off— to the point that catching and haltering have actually been a pretty big task for him, which is fine. I also found that the sound of metal on metal was terrifying to him, not just gates, but the sound of a normal cheek clip hitting the metal ring of a halter had him trying to jump out of a stall (in week one). no worrries, we switched to a rope lead rope and build up his comfort. I also found that if you got the rope around his neck he would stand, not out of comfort, but compliance. So, as ridiculously simple as it seems, to have him be fine with my coming in, not putting the lead rope around his neck, and just putting on the cheek clip halter without issue— well I’m excited.
More updates later. Slow and steady still is the way that we go. Dutton and I are in no rush.
#mhrdutton #trainarescuechallenge #safehorseproject
New obstacles, side to work, and having to wait for reinforcement (because you don’t get to get a habit of demanding). Dutton was really fantastic! I am also becoming more and more convinced that he knows I’m pregnant- he’s so gentle if his head is near my abdomen ❤️
Short video and a small obstacle, but the video perfectly shows how Dutton is much more willing when the pressure is taken off. This was a new obstacle for him, he wanted to think about it so I gave him the loose lead to do so and he was able to make the choice himself.
We are going slow because Dutton’s reaction to fast is fear. Someone clearly tried to train through force before and now he has to learn that humans won’t all do that. He’s a great horse!
Gaining more and more confidence to let me touch each side- commentary by my husband who was holding another horse (who was begging 😂).
Little things lead to big things like not flinching at trailering because we have been doing obstacles ❤️
Going slow can sometimes make me question if we are on track- but honestly that’s what Dutton needs. Our first month has been slow confidence building. He has gotten blanketed, his feet done, and lots of slow obstacle work. I’m really proud of him despite us not riding yet. Dutton is coming along in his time and for that I am so thankful!
Dutton had visitors today so he showed how confident he’s gotten for many things… maybe not having pups come trotting behind him… but that’s ok because he came back to me mentally which was lovely! Slow and steady is how we will continue ❤️
Little work leads to big work- we have done bigger things, but moments where he shows beginning stages of self-haltering make my heart happy! #mhrdutton #trainarescue #heartofthehorsechallenge
There were many funny moments in our work today (see the album video where he just decides to stand on the tires instead of go over), but this one probably took the cake.
I often use my deck as a long bridge to work on horse confidence— I’ve never had a single horse decide that not only is the pool not scary, but the rain water on top of the winter pool cover sounds delicious! It was just rain water, I wouldn’t have let him drink otherwise— but the brain on this kid is delightful!
