Today we try out a new format – hope it works for you — I expect to make more then one post per day – usually only one subject per post. Let’s see how it goes!
When on the Island, I play/work/enjoy being with Perla every day at 4:00 pm. A typical day consisted of me walking out to the pasture – most often with my friend – he with a three foot string (small diameter rope) and me with a rope halter. He has taught me many things about natural horsemanship. But, he supports me doing the details a way that is most comfortable for me. My comfort way, may be a little different than his, but he and I both believe one of the most important things to remember, when you play/work/enjoy being with animals is consistency – Especially with prey animals. In the case of horses, if you do the same gentle thing to them for several days and you did not eat them, they relax and tend to respond to your every wish. 
First, they must make sure that you are not a lion, tiger, or bear — ’cause their momma told them watch out for lions, tiger, and bears — they will hurt you – maybe even eat you! Run away quickly!
As I said, I have learned much, much, much from my friend about natural horsemanship. Consistency of course, how you approach a horse in the pasture, and much more. So when I approach Perla, I have a definition of a win, — We win if we prove our enjoyment of being together. Here is how we get to WIN. First, I did not go to the pasture to catch her — I want her move to me — to catch me — come to me for something — no not food — for GROOMING and our connection — a hug.
This is not a horse hug – It is a people hug. Horses do not hug and connect with each other this way. But they do hug — a mother horse will turn her head along her side and push the colt up against her body with her head – that is a horse hug — Perla (and all most all horses) love to be groomed, after Perla catches me each day — I do not put the halter on — I groom her. — I do it in the same way each day. She turns her head and gently pushes me against her body – that is a horse hug. We connected – she knows that I ask her to trust me and she does trust me. The routine sets us up for our fun activities of ground work/play, riding, and round pen hooking-on. Who knows in the future we may do Whitney Bay road touring, agility, and driving?
She even lets me clown around with her. We are becoming a team — wonder where this team will pick up when I return to the Island?
Sometimes we need to hug our tractors too – I am ready to get to the Island and do some road work and set up my brand new garden area for next year — Sorry Perla. Catch me later.
Off we go to exercise, help Melissa set up dog agility, and woodshop, and more
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