Back to the boys

Thanks to the long weekend, I had a rare Saturday with Daniel. He was a BRAT when I tried to bring him in. It was way too cold to ride (about 15 degrees), but I wanted to groom him and make sure he was good and clean, so he could fluff up that long coat of his, and not be cold.

Tomorrow I have a lesson, and I think I'll suggest we work on manners :-) My background is in dogs... I know what a mild, moderate and severe corrections are, and what is abusive, with dogs. I DON'T know what those are in the horse world. All I know is that when I whacked his butt with the end of his lead rope, and he picked his hoof up on the near side, I gave him an open-hand smack on the mouth. I don't know if I was right or not, but to me, that is the same as a growl with a dog... and my long-time obedience instructor always said, "A growl is a bite that didn't connect... correct it the same way you'd correct a bite." So, Daniel picking up, and holding up his LH hoof, got treated like a kick that didn't connect. When I told Leeandra what happened, and that I'd popped him, she didn't see alarmed, so I guess it wasn't too harsh of a correction.

I drive 2 1/2 hours to where Daniel lives because HE'S happy there... I am too, but I wish I didn't have a damned long drive!! I told Daniel if he doesn't knock his crap off, I'll move him closer to MY home. :-)