Day 2, Thursday, his behavior drastically changed. I began to see emotion and personality in Hamilton. I had let the rest of the horses out as usual and he freaked out, he was not happy to see them all leave and him have to stay in his stall. He was spinning, pawing, being very vocal, and even trying to get out of his stall from the top opening. This gave me a major opportunity to work on stall manners. I worked on stall manners with him for a while and once he was calm and relaxed, I let him out into the round pen. I worked on lunging more, he remembered a lot of what I had taught and worked with him on Wednesday. I forced him to lope and he caught on fast of what I was asking. He had one fit but got past it well. I worked on the ground all day Thursday. I want him to understand the fundamentals on the ground and have my trust, before I hop on him. He had become very trusting of me on Thursday. We began to learn how to lay down, it took quite a long time for him to understand what I was asking him, he would lay half way down and get up multiple times. The last time, he laid all the way down and I was very happy with how he carried his emotions, he wasn’t eager to get up, and calmly laid there.
Day 3, Friday, Hamilton was still unhappy when he saw all of the horses leave and he get left behind. I did the same as I had on Thursday with working on stall manners and when he was quiet in his stall he was let out. Friday was a big day on ground manners once again, he has gotten SO much better at trotting and even loping when asked. Hamilton has a very hard time understanding I want him to face me. From day one we have been working on facing toward me instead of turning the opposite way and trying to kick me. We have also been working on joining up and it is like he wants to come in to me, but he is scared to. He has slowly gotten better at coming into me. But something we will continue to work on. All day we worked on ground manners and fundamentals. In addition, he remembered very well on how to lay down. He has come a long way with understanding how to lay down. And it was just one day! Toward the end of the day, I decided he was ready to hop on. I knew he had previously been ridden but didn’t know how much or what his quirks are when someone is on him. I chose to ride him bareback for the first time. What Hamilton has shown me and as you will see in the videos, Hamilton doesn’t want to go, but also doesn’t want to stand still. He would rather do what he wants to do – when he wants to do it. So far, I have learned some of Hamilton’s ways of refusing, is stopping when not asked, backing up fast when not asked, stomping his hind end, and swooshing his tail. Although these are just a few, I am sure the more we go, the more we will learn. Hamilton also moves at the slightest touch; body position and movements are huge to him. Although this can be good, he doesn’t understand that not everything means go faster, this being something we will work on. Foot pressure will be huge for this guy. Although right now he thinks it means go faster, soon, he will understand I am not asking him to go faster.
Hamilton has also been learning how to stand still in cross ties, he enjoys getting brushed and also likes going for walks and eating the lush green grass!
Thanks for following out journey! More updates to come! #HOPTeamHamilton appreciates your support!
It won't allow me to post my video, but it is posted on my Facebook page if you wish to see it! "EjB Horsemanship"
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