I am also proud of my pony, Kestrel. Some of you know that sadly I thought it best to rehome him on a permanent basis, for various reasons.
Anyway, Saturday was the day he went. Kestrel has a great fear of horseboxes (not tooo bad with trailers) and the girl who transported him had a box. I had already decided that there would be no lunge whips, yanking on ropes and I was going to do this in my own time, no-one elses.
Unfortunately Kestrel has had no clicker training (which I think he would be fantastic at!) so it was very simple positive reinforcement. We walked calmly to the ramp and I let him sniff, then walked him up (in disbelief as he just walked with me!) but his fear got the better of him as we got to the dark interior and back/up he went. So, we had a little game, much to the amusement of everyone.
I broke up lots of little carrots and started by laying a trail up the ramp as he stepped, until he got the idea that step = carrot. I actually got him all the way in like this, before he panicked and went back (I let go of the lead immediately- he doesn't respond well to pressure!). At first, one girl said 'Why don't you just pull him in?', so I demonstrated what happened with pressure on the lead rope (he threatened to rear).
Anyway, it took three times of step/reward before they were quick enough to shut the ramp (as soon as it's up he stops panicking, bless), but I was so chuffed. It took about 20 minutes in all, but he walked in on a completely loose rein and I explained why I was doing what I did in proper demo style
)
The last time I saw him load it took us 40 minutes, but that included having my other pony IN the box to entice him in. So I'm very proud of him and of me, for standing my ground when people tried to PUSH him on the ramp.
The worry did wipe me out though. I had to go home and sleep once I'd settled him into his new home!
