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Billie is much better already about not ambushing as we enter with hay or feed. It just took one day of "go away" practice and she seems to understand to not crowd when we say not to.
This afternoon I took a rope out to the pen with me. I let Billie sniff it and mouth it. She came at it from both directions just like a smart horsey should. I was able to use it to shoo her away and to direct her movement. She didn't mind it one bit in my hand; she sniffed at the coil as I held it and let me rub it on her muzzle.
Today she let me rub her on her star between her eyes! Whoohoo! It was almost as though she thought that felt good and seemed to keep coming back for more rubs. I really hope this means I'll be able to touch and rub her neck in another week or so. From there, I ought to be able to rub her all over with the rope and then work my way into "catching" her with the rope.
Friday, May 30, 2008
Thursday, May 29, 2008
May 29, 2008
A New Game!
Billie grows bolder by the day--when I enter her pen carrying hay or feed, she is ready to ambush and eat out of my hands. But a real ambush it may become, so I've started waving my hand at her in that "go away" manner so I can be in charge of the scene. This gave me an idea today to try a new game, and Billie was willing to play along!
I've already been "directing" her as I move around her pen using body language that I use daily with my other horses to keep her out of startle and kick range. Today I thought to try drawing her to me with other body language that I often employ. Namely, I walked along kissing and calling to her, inviting with my hand, and she actually followed my movement! Very exciting. After doing this a few times, and going both directions around the pen, I thought I should try the brakes out, too. So I shooed her away by focusing my mental energy at her hind end, waving my arm as I sometimes do to get a horse to move at the end of a line, and she moved on and out as I hoped. I followed this with more "follow me/come here" and more "go away", finishing with the "come here". At a couple of the "come here's" I offered a piece of alfalfa cube on my bare hand, which she gently took. All good work.
This afternoon, I finally received the mustang gentling videos I've been waiting on and can't wait to learn more games/lessons to try with Billie.
Billie grows bolder by the day--when I enter her pen carrying hay or feed, she is ready to ambush and eat out of my hands. But a real ambush it may become, so I've started waving my hand at her in that "go away" manner so I can be in charge of the scene. This gave me an idea today to try a new game, and Billie was willing to play along!
I've already been "directing" her as I move around her pen using body language that I use daily with my other horses to keep her out of startle and kick range. Today I thought to try drawing her to me with other body language that I often employ. Namely, I walked along kissing and calling to her, inviting with my hand, and she actually followed my movement! Very exciting. After doing this a few times, and going both directions around the pen, I thought I should try the brakes out, too. So I shooed her away by focusing my mental energy at her hind end, waving my arm as I sometimes do to get a horse to move at the end of a line, and she moved on and out as I hoped. I followed this with more "follow me/come here" and more "go away", finishing with the "come here". At a couple of the "come here's" I offered a piece of alfalfa cube on my bare hand, which she gently took. All good work.
This afternoon, I finally received the mustang gentling videos I've been waiting on and can't wait to learn more games/lessons to try with Billie.
Wednesday, May 28, 2008
May 28, 2008
Interesting day...a good day. Billie continues to eat hay from my hand and to eat from the ground feeder while I hold it. She does not mind my presence in her pen to scoop poop or bring feed. Tonight, I had friends over and took a few out to meet Billie. Beverly squatted by the corner of Billie's shed and let Billie sniff her over. At some point, Bev moved and Billie startled, going into a pretty rearing dance. She got over it pretty quickly and headed back to sniff at Bev some more. Bev noted that each time Billie encountered someone new, she would go over to my spot at the fence before heading back to the newbie, as though for reassurance--a nice thought and compliment to me, I guess, meaning that I offer comfort and security for Billie.
Billie continues to be curious about visitors and her surroundings. My thought is that she must have had a relatively "pleasant" capture experience. She does not seem frightened of things/events/people. That is not to say she does not startle and is not cautious, but she does not exhibit fear of new things/events/people. The BLM must have done a good job in her capture.
Billie continues to be curious about visitors and her surroundings. My thought is that she must have had a relatively "pleasant" capture experience. She does not seem frightened of things/events/people. That is not to say she does not startle and is not cautious, but she does not exhibit fear of new things/events/people. The BLM must have done a good job in her capture.
Tuesday, May 27, 2008
May 27, 2008
We really lucked out when Billie walked into the chute and onto our trailer! This little girl seems to really want to be part of our herd.
Yesterday she was eating hay out of my hand, and when Charles climbed up onto the roof of her shed to add more screws to the tin, she really didn't mind either his being on the roof or the sound of the drill--she didn't ignore it, but her reaction was minimal.
Today I introduced some grain--I think she must have had some of that before! I put it in a ground feeder and held it at my waist, and that little girl walked right up to me and ate it as I held the feeder! After a bit, I set the feeder on the ground and stood next to it. That didn't faze her either. She ate as I stood there. At one point, she reached her muzzle to me and sniffed as if to say "thank you" for the yummy snack. Right after that, as she was munching more grain, she stepped on the edge of the feeder and scared herself (and me!) and had to wheel away! She walked right back, though, and ate more, stepped on it again, scared herself a tiny bit less than before, and came right back to the feeder. I decided at that point to make my exit so I would not be in the way on subsequent startles!
For the record, we are able to enter the pen, scoop poop, put down hay, rake hay, put down feed, etc., all in just a couple of days after bringing her home! Amazing! What a gem of a wild horse.
Yesterday she was eating hay out of my hand, and when Charles climbed up onto the roof of her shed to add more screws to the tin, she really didn't mind either his being on the roof or the sound of the drill--she didn't ignore it, but her reaction was minimal.
Today I introduced some grain--I think she must have had some of that before! I put it in a ground feeder and held it at my waist, and that little girl walked right up to me and ate it as I held the feeder! After a bit, I set the feeder on the ground and stood next to it. That didn't faze her either. She ate as I stood there. At one point, she reached her muzzle to me and sniffed as if to say "thank you" for the yummy snack. Right after that, as she was munching more grain, she stepped on the edge of the feeder and scared herself (and me!) and had to wheel away! She walked right back, though, and ate more, stepped on it again, scared herself a tiny bit less than before, and came right back to the feeder. I decided at that point to make my exit so I would not be in the way on subsequent startles!
For the record, we are able to enter the pen, scoop poop, put down hay, rake hay, put down feed, etc., all in just a couple of days after bringing her home! Amazing! What a gem of a wild horse.
Sunday, May 25, 2008
May 25, 2008
This morning when I went out to the pen, Billie came right up to me at the fence! She sniffed at me but did not want me to touch that muzzle today. I fed her and checked her water, then set to work cleaning up the pen. At first, I scooped poop I could reach through the panels, but lots more poop was in the center of the pen. I decided to try opening the gate to see what would happen--nothing. Billie stood watching me, seeming curious about what I was up to opening the gate and all. My hand waving did nothing to scoot her to the back of the pen so I would feel better about entering--she just seemed not concerned that I wanted to be in the pen with her. After a few minutes, I was no longer very interesting and she went over to her hay pile to munch away, so I decided it was time to enter all the way like it was no big deal that I would be inside the pen with a manure fork picking poop. I didn't turn my back on her the whole time but set about my work and got most of the poop up; Billie was fine with the whole event. Mostly she munched her hay; a few times she walked over to the side of the pen to peer around the shelter to see what was going on but would always go back to the hay.
Later this morning, Charles was visiting with her and was thrilled to have her come up and sniff him through the panels. She even let him scratch her muzzle.
We spent the day at a family reunion and got back later than intended. Billie was fine except that she had eaten every blade of hay I'd put down this morning. She set right to work when I could put more down, but didn't much care for the headlights of the truck shining in her pen--who would?
Later this morning, Charles was visiting with her and was thrilled to have her come up and sniff him through the panels. She even let him scratch her muzzle.
We spent the day at a family reunion and got back later than intended. Billie was fine except that she had eaten every blade of hay I'd put down this morning. She set right to work when I could put more down, but didn't much care for the headlights of the truck shining in her pen--who would?
Saturday, May 24, 2008
May 24, 2008 part two
I touched my mustang!
I went out to Billie's pen (when I should have been getting supper started) just to check on things. When I finished my approach, she turned and walked right up to me (I was on the outside of the pen). She sniffed at me. I happened to have a horse cookie in my pocket, so I tossed it to her. She has no clue about horse cookies, although that may be why she approached. After sniffing a bit more, she turned to get back to hay munching.
I then walked to another side of the pen, and when I stopped, she came up again! And sniffed at me some more! I put my hand out, and she let me rub her muzzle. I offered up a second cookie, which she sniffed a bit more, then she gently took it with her lips. She dropped it and didn't go looking for it. Instead, she went back to the hay.
I walked around to yet another side, and she looked my way but did not approach.
I walked around the shelter (out of her sight) and to anther side of the pen (closer to her), and she approached yet again. I got to scratch her muzzle again and again. I made sure to end our contact on a positive, and left before she could get disinterested.
How cool is that?! I touched a wild horse today!
I went out to Billie's pen (when I should have been getting supper started) just to check on things. When I finished my approach, she turned and walked right up to me (I was on the outside of the pen). She sniffed at me. I happened to have a horse cookie in my pocket, so I tossed it to her. She has no clue about horse cookies, although that may be why she approached. After sniffing a bit more, she turned to get back to hay munching.
I then walked to another side of the pen, and when I stopped, she came up again! And sniffed at me some more! I put my hand out, and she let me rub her muzzle. I offered up a second cookie, which she sniffed a bit more, then she gently took it with her lips. She dropped it and didn't go looking for it. Instead, she went back to the hay.
I walked around to yet another side, and she looked my way but did not approach.
I walked around the shelter (out of her sight) and to anther side of the pen (closer to her), and she approached yet again. I got to scratch her muzzle again and again. I made sure to end our contact on a positive, and left before she could get disinterested.
How cool is that?! I touched a wild horse today!
May 24, 2008
It's a girl!
We picked up our mustang today! She is the prettiest little filly! She loaded right onto our trailer, hardly made a peep, and then shyly exited the trailer at home and made her way to the pen without event. She has spent the last few hours munching hay and listening to the sounds of the stable next door.
Her name is Billie's Holiday.
We picked up our mustang today! She is the prettiest little filly! She loaded right onto our trailer, hardly made a peep, and then shyly exited the trailer at home and made her way to the pen without event. She has spent the last few hours munching hay and listening to the sounds of the stable next door.
Her name is Billie's Holiday.
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