GMDI – Good Morning – Aug 3, 2013 – 49 degrees and Just a WOW day – Morning on the Bay, Shadows, and Me/Perla Transition

I sure can waste (Spend) hours playing around with Photoshop. I am not an artist – just an Engineer – I can make Photoshop do most anything — but knowing what needs to be done to create art — not my strong point – but that does not stop me from looking at natural art happenings!  You know, clouds and things — maybe I should add shadows to clouds as a natural art form.

Now the question – How is my training of (BUDDY) Perla coming along? — Be ready because the answer is not simple! – So here are some thoughts — I will update you often thru this blog.

When our friendly hardware store owner asked “How’s the training going?” Here is what I said  “Whose training – Mine or Perla’s? Anyway, thanks for asking, we are getting much better”  – Being  near lunch time I needed a snack  – so I went on to ask the store owner – “By the way do you sell oats – I am a little hungry”  Not sure that he got my point – Did you?

On July 27 I told you about my 10 step lesson plan (I call it a transition plan) for me and (BUDDY)Perla – all with lots of praise. In summary:

1. get (BUDDY) Perla to catch me

2. get her in the mood.

3. ground tie

4. circle me

5. ask her to come to me

6. walk beside me

7. walk into trailer

8. walk into stall

9. ride — away from barn and herd – slow, normal, tolt

10. not bolt out of barn when I say “All done”

But the question is “Why in the hell would (BUDDY)Perla want to do any of these things?”

Doing figure 8’s around rocks sticking out of the ground must seem very stupid to a horse — why go down a trail with 160 pounds on my back and this steel thing in my mouth? Why stand there when I could be munching grass? Why get in that box on wheels when I do not want to be transported any away from where I am? The reason has to be so that I (Perla) can be with a fun BUDDY (Me).

Bottom line — We do all 10 steps pretty darn good – better then I ever expected. Why?

Not sure – Lets take a look at which of these are the most rewarding to Perla.

1. Rest during or after a work-out

2. Release of pressure – pulling on reins, pointing at rear quarters  (I have many forms of pressure to use)

3. Food treat

4. Petting/and words of praise

5. Fun, Fun, Fun with a consistent BUDDY

In this modern day one can do much research on the web – I conclude: the experts do not know which is most rewarding.

But what all experts and dummies like me do agree on,  horses want to be with their buddies – they are a herd animal – AND – horses like to play with their buddies – Just the other day my friend, the owner of the farm where Perla lives, was telling me about one of his horses getting the whole herd to race around the barn – not in fear but just for the fun of racing around — like school kids in the playground.

10 PLAYSTEPS : So, my 10 step transition plan is really aimed at getting me to be the best (BUDDY) Perla ever had and to bring to her 10 steps of play – every day !

Well, not all can be play and praise –there is the need for some punishment (Negative reward) but CONSISTENT FAIRNESS is the key. Got that from the Ag extension office – Mich State “MyHorseUniversity” program.

Whatever the answer to the question “How are we doing with our training?” — I really love it and I think Perla does too.  I already have Grad School planning underway.