I Finally Listen

As my training with Navi progresses I found that every session she was getting harder and harder for me to connect with. Then last week we had a training session that made me finally re-think my ways. She didn't want to yield her hindquarters, instead she was just trying to push her way into me. So finally I got "big enough" and upped my pressure and she did it properly. Win right? Not exactly in my mind. I spent the rest of the night reliving that training session and in my gut I knew if I continued on with my same methods our relationship would slowly cease to exist. She would do what she had to do to avoid pressure, but would never like working with me. So I made up my mind that next day. No more pressure and release training, again I was going back to what I knew best. So I made it my plan to re-introduce the clicker to her. We haven't used it in a year or more. I still used positive reinforcement training, but as of recently not nearly as much as the negative reinforcement.

Yesterday I headed out to the barn after work to have our first session. I went and caught her and as always she was super easy to catch. However, she decided after I caught her that she didn't want to leave the pasture. (Telling me she doesn't like our training sessions) So I insisted she leave with me which in turn resulting in her biting me! Ok, no biting allowed! I made her back up a long ways and then yielded hindquarters. Then we left the pasture. She proceeded to have her ears pinned the whole way down to the tack room.  I was glad I had made my mind up to change my methods. This was the second time she has made it very clear she hates coming out of the pasture. I was at a cross road and I had two choices: get bigger and match her resistance or find a way around this fight with her. I decided to find a way around so we loaded the clicker while tied to keep me at a safe distance until she figured out to look away for the treats. Not long after starting she caught on and we made our way to the round pen to practice looking away for the treat. She figured it out in no time! She was trying to learn what worked and was being respectful about it! No nipping, no pushing into me. I didn't have to reprimand her once for getting into my space because she quickly figured out that didn't get her the food. (Now this isn't her first go around with positive reward training so that helped.)  For the first time in a very long time I was proud of my training session with her. She was connected and wanting to learn.

The session almost brought tears to my eyes. Why? Because I realized just because you have a horse that can tolerate the pressure and release training doesn't mean you have to use it. Navi doesn't have to be handled with little pressure like Pixie and Char, but it doesn't mean I should treat her different. I know how to correct bad behaviors with clicker training, but instead I choose the other way and I suffered the consequences. I am just glad Navi is forgiving and it's not to late to start over! Thank you Navi for making me listen even if you had to scream at me before I noticed.