tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28335578.post7014291138487450797..comments2023-09-20T02:40:17.614-05:00Comments on Dressage Mom: The Cost of CourageDressage Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13741448152235721941noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28335578.post-65801459857416231572012-02-09T10:53:27.250-05:002012-02-09T10:53:27.250-05:00Have you done any specific desensitizing with him?...Have you done any specific desensitizing with him? Like with you on the ground get him used to you touching him all over, waving your hands around, get him used to touching him with all sorts of things like ropes, whips, blankets, jackets, plastic bags, paper, etc. It sounds like he just needs to learn that things aren't going to hurt him. From the ground first, then from the saddle. If his fear has been so ingrained that he thinks you're going to beat him when you're not even carrying a whip then I think he needs a LOT of ground work to build his trust in you. He needs to be shown that you aren't like those other people who mistreated him. I'm glad you're okay and I hope you can figure this out!Achieve1dreamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15401246064499148344noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28335578.post-68349256920253104362012-01-30T07:42:40.024-05:002012-01-30T07:42:40.024-05:00Please prepare a "disaster plan" should ...Please prepare a "disaster plan" should he bolt like that in an arena full of competitors warming up ... <br /><br />As someone who has shown with bolting horses darting around, it's terrifying to be the "other rider".Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28335578.post-13700794171016447122012-01-29T19:03:20.940-05:002012-01-29T19:03:20.940-05:00Been there, still going through that. If nothing e...Been there, still going through that. If nothing else, having a horse that was treated too roughly in the past, keeps you gentle and patient in the future. Value that.Sand.https://www.blogger.com/profile/04371583910189754998noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28335578.post-21958925048552838212012-01-28T09:11:02.540-05:002012-01-28T09:11:02.540-05:00Yikes. He is so young to have such strongly ingra...Yikes. He is so young to have such strongly ingrained fears. I expect older horses to come with baggage, but someone must have worked on him very young. That is so sad.<br /><br />What if you start in-hand? Then he will be able to see you and as he learns that you are not going to hurt him, maybe he will be able to translate it to the saddle. Good luck and be safe.Valhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07335385366138424092noreply@blogger.com