Least Resistance Training Concepts
Project Activity Album
Knightsen's Activities
OLYMPIC WILD HORSE & BURRO PROJECT
Part Thirteen
Spirit with Visitors

Getting Back to Normal

On Saturday we tried to resume a normal horse schedule. To make things interesting, the American Civil War Association was holding a Civil War reenactment over the entire weekend, complete with ground mortars and cannon, across the road about a half mile away. This activity was a bit rough on some of the horses. One Arabian spooked, crashed a gate post and required over 50 stitches. We were able to settle the Olympic animals and actually get some nice work done.

Civil War reenacted
Reenactment Image
Reenactment Camp
Kerataz getting 50+ stiches
Suzi & Herb Kicker with Dusty & Magic

TTeamwork and Focus Training

After studying Spirit's behavior and watching him interact with the others, we concluded that he was probably a larger but lesser ranked horse in his band and in the holding pens. He was a naive youngster and the more aggressive horses took advantage of him. As a result his first response would be to avoid other horses as well as humans, and be very defensive whenever they approached him directly.

We cracked his shell through use of the safe squeeze and the clicker. With the safe squeeze he had to tolerate our approach, which we were very careful not to overplay. With the clicker we interjected some positive reinforcement, setting up situations where he could interact with humans with instant, positive outcomes.

Once his level of curiosity was greater than his level of anxiety (he would actually focus on us rather than tune us out,) Hue started some short sessions of TTouch and other body work with him. Later in the day James Kicker worked together with Hue and Spirit started to really connect with James.

"I want to 'play' with you!"
Attention definitely on James

Next it was time for Spirit to learn focus on what was happening right there in the "here and now." Sometimes we use ground poles and other objects. In this case we used an "undulating" crowd of volunteers in the round pen who would mill about quietly and nonthreateningly. Spirit would need to process this movement all about him, recognize that it was nonthreatening, keep track of everyone and still interact with various humans. Actually he did quite well and within a few minutes was relatively comfortable being smothered with humans.
Checking out the "human herd"
Tracking in on Hue
Surrounded by humans
Multiple contacts
Reaching for a scratch with rope on back

Continue to Part Fourteen

Meet the Animals!

Return to Part Twelve

Olympic Wild Horse Project Objectives

What is a mentor?

Album of Wild Horse Workshops

Return to LRTC Wild Horse Mentors

Return to KBR World of Wild Horses & Burros

Go To KBR Horse Net