Saturday morning, the first day of my participation in Christi Rains L2/3 Clinic in Brenham, I awoke to a Texas thunderstorm - lots of water, thunder and lightning!
I had prepared the night before, hooking up the horse trailer and moving it to the driveway that didn't get buried in mud during a storm. Everything was already loaded into the truck and trailer. Just had to load up Destin and myself. But it's lightning and thundering! I don't go out in lightning, if it's just me. I'm not about to go out and try to load my horse.
I called the clinic host and let her know that I would be there as soon as the weather allowed. We would stay safe and go slow and get there when we get there. She was in agreement.
Thirty minutes later, the storm had subsided to a light drizzle and the lightning had stopped. Time to start the process of loading up.
Brought Destin over from the barn; he followed me easily and didn't seem to be concerned that he was leaving the other horses. I asked him to load and he did. But he didn't stay in. He showed nervousness upon getting in the trailer and hearing the rain on the roof. And, his buddy horse had noticed he was missing and started calling for him.
So I worked with Destin to get him re-focused on me by doing some circling game and change of direction. He did end up going in the trailer and staying so that I could calmly and slowly close the door.
I reminded myself of what my teacher, Cindy Deaton, told me about being in a clinic: "You and your relationship with your horse come FIRST. Only do what you two are ready for. For example, if you are asked to canter and you have only worked on trotting, you trot.". As I went into the front area of the trailer to rub Destin, check everything and put the lead rope in the Blocker Tie Ring, I noticed Destin's eyes. They had a slight white rim. He was eating his hay, but he was nervous eating. My horse was not relaxed, not comfortable and NOT ready to go.
So even though it meant we would get to the clinic even later, I took the time necessary to hang with my horse, giving him scratches and rubs and comforintg him until he RELAXED. It took about 15 minutes. Only then, did we head off to the clinic.
Our 'clinic' started before we even left our driveway. And when Destin and I did leave, our relationship was more than intact, it was GREAT!
Keep It Natural!
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