KBR Horse Net
Training Case Study:

"Magnificent Max"
Part Three

Max, you have visitors!

Day 3:

Max needed to start getting used to different people. Sharon worked with him using the pole and started getting some of those scary places desensitized. Max was at liberty the whole time and handled the process well.

Day 4

I started out with some lightweight yielding to pressure, then we did some requests to come forward using the sliding neck loop. Max was starting to get pretty light. I went back several times and fed him carrots and rubbed his muzzle off-line.

Later both Sharon and Mary Sebers came into the pen. Max would walk toward us on cue with slight pressure on the neck loop. He would also take carrots from Sharon and Mary, a bit wary of the crowd at first, but eventually he appeared to enjoy the attention.

Day 5

Sharon continued to desensitize Max with the bamboo pole. He would also take treats by hand if a rope was laying across his neck and he would turn in with the slightest pressure, but he still needed a rope, even if not closed around his neck, to be approached.

Day 6

Max will now consistently walk up with a gentle request on the rope, I can rub his face, neck, shoulders and rib cage on both sides and he'll stand for me to do this after I release the and remove the rope. He is still protective of the center of his belly and his right "arm pit."

What we're going for at this point is not speed but mutual trust which will pay big dividends later.

"Walk up!" (on cue)
Muzzle rubs aren't bad!
He likes Mary too.
Getting an ear massage from Sharon
(off lead)
Neck rubs can be nice
(Off lead)
"I can touch the target
while being rubbed!
Mane inspection; Knots untied
but tangles remain

Continue to Part 4

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