An interesting day yesterday. Beauty and I and some friends were playing in the arena - lovely day, warm sun, such a nice break from all the cold, wet weather. We had set up several obstacles and I had the idea to work on my arena cantering with Beauty. Soon, other horses started to join us, and it became a bit crowded. A trailer arrived and unloaded a big sorrel quarter horse and several people. A woman tacked him up and joined us as well. The tarp was set up about 30 feet from the entrance to the arena, and I noticed that the horse did a mini-spook and snort when the woman asked him to approach the tarp. She skirted around and headed to the end of the arena and started trotting circles.
My friends and I continued on with our obstacle play as other horses came and left. After a few minutes of trotting circles, the woman and the big quarter horse made their way back to the gate to exit the arena. My friend was on her little mare who was standing on the waded up tarp and she was flicking the tarp with her carrot stick & string while we all stood around chatting - no one really noticing the woman trying to open the arena gate. A few seconds later, the woman called out to my friend - "Hey, can you stop doing that (flicking the tarp with her stick/string)? It's freaking him out. He was scared as a colt and I don't need him to be scared right now!" The flicking stopped and we all watched in silence as the woman and horse maneuvered the gate and exited the arena. One of my friends immediately said, "I'd want my horse to be exposed to things. That's how you teach them not to be afraid." She is not a Parelli student, but is very natural and knowledgeable. A good horsewoman. The others of us agreed, and we went on about our business of play.
Shortly thereafter, back comes the horse, this time being towed by an older "cowboy gentleman." "Hey," he says. "Can I use your tarp? These guys (apparently the horse owners, husband & wife combo) bet me I can't make this horse get on the tarp." So, for the next several minutes, the horse was lunged, snorting and spooking all around the tarp. It was a painful process to watch. Other horses would walk by, step on the tarp, in an effort to calm the big quarter horse - to no avail. Eventually, I couldn't watch anymore and left the arena to go use the potty. When I got back about 5 minutes later - success - he had the horse skip quickly across the tarp. I'm not sure what happened, but I think from a comment, one of my Parelli friends interceded and offered some advice - but I'm not sure. Anyway - the old cowboy declared victory and they left the arena. It was just one in many similar days over the course of my horse owning years that I am Oh SO Pleased that I've found the Parelli program, and have learned so much from it. And from the look of that poor quarter horses face, I know my horses are happy too.
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