This message is from: "Vicki Johnston" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Heather,
I find that with Kjerstin, treats are a great motivator. She is left-brained extrovert, and when all else fails, she will try to tackle anything for treats. Of course, this tells me that I am not being provocative enough, because she really isn't that concerned, just deciding if she is bored enough to try and play me and see if she can make me think she is concerned. She is so, so smart, and a bit of a drama queen if she thinks she can fool me. She entertains herself that way - "Mom is so easy to fool, it's ridiculous!" A really good tool for us has been the Parelli ball. I only bring that out occasionally, and if I leave it out for her to check out, it has a mind of it's own and on a windy day, will explore all by itself. Then, I go get the ball and push it around and get her to follow. She usually gets so intrigued that she can't help herself. She has seen it move around by itself, but Mom can control it, so "can I?" She usually ends up following it, pushing it, trying to stomp it, and having a good time. So, I probably haven't helped a lot, but Parelli is loads of fun with Fjords. They are so smart, they just love it. I guess my advice is that if you haven't tried treats, see if that miraculously overcomes the hesitation. Kjerstin will try anything for treats, unless it involves a jump, which is too much effort for such a measly prize! She prefers to show me just how far she can stretch and still not fall on her face, which I usually find pretty impressive! I took Kjerstin to the Parelli center in Ocala for a two week ground class in Jan-Feb of 2007. It was truly the best vacation that I have ever had. The atmosphere at the Parelli center is very positive and supportive. I learned a lot and I really left there with a good understanding of Kjerstin's horsenality and it has proved to be worth every penny. We really bonded through the experience, and I have never had a horse that made me feel like she enjoys me as much as I enjoy her. If there is any way, you can go for a ground class, go for it. They now offer one week experiences, but the two weeks was well, well worth the time and the money. Have fun with Henry, and I promise you that you will find a lot of enjoyment in your Parelli time with him. :-) Vicki Mims, Florida The FjordHorse List archives can be found at: http://tinyurl.com/rcepw
