This message is from: Gail Russell <g...@zeliga.com>
Be careful about all the pschoanalysis of why Bam Bam was unable to stand for the farrier. BF Skinner always cautioned that the organism (BAM BAM) should be treated as a "black box." You have no idea of his motivations or what else is going on in his head. It is enough to just accept the fact that he does not know how to deal with this situation, and figure out how to prepare him for picking up his feet in a variety of situations, including with a farrier who approaches in any old manner. I know horse trainers who pretend to be falling down drunks trying to mount their horses.....get the horse used to anything....and the truth is that many many horses will eventually have to deal with a falling down drunk person :). I encourage you to buy Alexandra Kurland's books and join her "click that teaches" list. She is a trained behavioral scientist, as are some of the people on her list. Also, consider going to the Clicker Expo or to the Wicked Minds conference in January at Texas State University. GAil ? When he started with Odi, he didn't introduce himself or go slowly, just had me hold him and went at his feet.? So after that, I got Bam-Bam, and the farrier couldn't even get near him, he went wild when the farrier?started?got close to us.? He didn't rear, but he was jumping all?around and it was hard for me to hold onto.? The farrier was like, OK, no way, and he turned around and left.? The Bam-Bam was fine.??Bam-Bam just didn't want that bad guy carrying torture-implements (for all he knew) getting close to him. Important FjordHorse List Links: Subscription Management: http://tinyurl.com/5msa7e FH-L Archives: http://tinyurl.com/rcepw FH_L Shirts: http://tinyurl.com/8yky94l
