It's not about the...

Trailer! Today we planned to go on a trail ride at Walking Iron. I got to the barn plenty early, since I knew that I haven't been spending much time with Josie lately. On Tuesday in fact, she didn't even want to SPEAK to me, which is very unusual for her. She did greet me at the gate today though, so we got off on the right foot.

As much as we have worked on trailer loading, it is still an issue for my girl. She sees that thing, and instantly gets the look in her eye--oh no, she's going to make me get on that thing!!! I try my best not to be direct line about it, but it can be hard when she is so negatively focused on it. Ultimately I need to spend a lot more time with it so she gets comfortable with it on her own. I played some games away from the trailer and then started playing with her near her herd (her other big issue in life--herd boundness). The only rest and grazing that she got was near the trailer. At this point I had the trailer all shut up, so there was no possibility of sending her in. She just had to put zones on it.

We eventually got around to loading. She went in fairly willingly, but goes majorly RBI. Tight lips and face, no blinking, shallow breaths. At that point, I told her that I wasn't going to make her do anything. In fact, if it didn't feel right to go on our trail ride, then that was fine with me. Of course I had a momentary tang of disappointment at the possibility of not going, but it was only fleeting. If I learned one thing down in Florida, it is that the relationship is the most important thing. I vowed that I wouldn't compromise the relationship if at all possible. And I kept that vow today. I'll have to say, it is somewhat liberating to take that approach to things. It allowed me to keep all emotion out of my session with her. It is easy for me to take things personally and feel like if I was a better leader for her she would just go on and be fine with it. It is true that I need to be a better leader for her, but I don't achieve that by making her do things that break the trust built up between us.

Long story short, we didn't go on the trail ride. We played with loading for a while. We alternated loading or resting/grazing by the trailer. If we went away from the trailer she had to work--mostly circling game on the hill by the herd. The funny thing is, I had to do SO little. If there was emotion, it was emotions that she brought up in herself. I stayed a calm leader for her the entire time. I looked for rhythm and relaxation on the circle before she got any rest. Sometimes it took a long time, sometimes a little. She did eventually go on many times with all four feet. I even got her to the point where she rested in there for a while. She still doesn't like getting locked in, and that is where her major trust issues come up. I did put up the butt bar and shut the door once. I then unloaded and grazed her. We went back and loaded a few minutes later. At that point I called it good for the day.

She got a bath, and another good long graze, and then back to the paddock she went. All in all, it was a good session. I clearly have my work cut out for me if I am going to have a successful trail riding season with her! But it is fun to figure out the relationship, and I am committed to getting it right. I learned down in Florida how many situations I have "managed" her through. Even though it works in the short term, it isn't good for the long term. I hope I am on the right track with her...it feels right.

I hope my dear friends had a good ride without me, it sure was a beautiful day!!!