OK so unfortunately my camera battery was dead this morning when my husband went to grab it and take pictures for me...so here is a written re-cap of my progress.
Day 2- Went swimmingly with not as much progress as I had hoped. I re-affirmed my self truth that I am indeed a HORRIBLE roper! But with the help of a smaller arena I was able to approach and retreat over and over and over to this flighty mare until I could confidently rub both of her shoulders. I also did a lot of desensitizing with the rope (since I couldn't get it over her neck and she was just getting worried about it) I would stand away from her and fling the rope back and forth at first a great distance from her and then I was able to throw it right next to her when I stopped. Unfortunately I was not able to get the halter on yet, but sometimes you just have to wait and let the horse give you the green light. I figure it takes about 3 days to get the halter on using this approach and retreat in a smaller pen- as opposed to if I could rope her I could do a lot more in one day. Also, the only way I knew this would work is because she is not belligerent or disrespectful- mostly she was just scared- which is totally workable. I did get a closer look at the cut above her eye and it is not as bad as I originally thought. *whew! I would have had to figure out how to drug her, put her in a trailer and drag her to the vet for stitches if it was any worse. Luckily- It'll heal and it's not infected!
Day 3- (today!) WOW what an awesome change! Today I was able to continue what I started yesterday and after attempting to rope her again (I just thought I'd try!) I ended up with a whole lot more of approach and retreat desensitizing her to myself, and then to a few of my tools and the halter. I was able to rub her all over and she started to relax at my touch which is a HUGE improvement. When they get to the point where they realize being next to someone is the relaxing place to be, that's when you know things are starting to happen. I just loved on her and massaged her up and down her neck and back approaching and retreating and approaching again until I got the halter around her neck. (That was the hard part!) Once I had a line attached to her, it was relatively easy to get her disengaging her hind end and giving me two eyes. After all, you can't teach a horse anything if they are not paying attention to you. She was a very good student once she learned to give to pressure and not push. Sophie gave me a look like "No one has ever made me do this! " Lol! It made me chuckle. She is a sweet girl, tomorrow I hope to work some more on practicing haltering and leading and more desensitizing. One step at a time! She sure is a pretty girl.
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