This message is from: "the Sessoms'" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> The fjords are really good at ignoring you. I know. I guess that is what
makes them very safe for first time horse owners. But it does try your patience. When your fjord learns you will not go away, or stop, when she learns you can outlast her patience, she will do something. I have waited 20 minutes for my older mare to learn to give to the bit at a trot. It was not her fault, she had a beginner rider before who probably used the reins for balance, and my horse thought she just had to put up with it. Hang in there. They may look like they are trying to go to sleep on you, but it is hard to have a nice sleep when someone keeps tapping on you, or putting pressure on the side of your halter. I think the lack of fear is also why the butt rope did not work well. They just are not like other horses, they don't get afraid from something around their legs in general. Flighty horses will move away in fear from a rope there. Once she learns the whip cue, you can combine this to get more speed. I forgot to mention that once the filly is moving from halter pressure laterally, if you give her a chance, she can learn to move forward from pressure on her poll by putting pressure on the lead rope forward and again, rewarding when she takes a step forward. By this time, they are learning that you don't quit, and they are quicker in trying to figure out what they need to do to get rewarded. The problem comes when you try to pull your filly along, as you have described. When their body is in a straight line like that, it is easier for them to resist your pull with their whole body. Hence we teach them to bend their necks first, necks are plenty strong but not as strong as their whole body, so they tire out and learn to give faster (and before they wear you out hopefully). I hope you find this useful. It is really hard to describe in words as I have tried to my sisters. Watching someone is the best. I love my Fjords, but I found the 'regular' training methods did not work as well as the Natural Horsemanship methods. Sue Banks
