KBR Horse Net
Training Case Study:

"Rusty"

Ted didn't have corrals set up so he brought Ben and an other adoptee that we dubbed Gentle Ben over to the LRTC Learning Center pens where the volunteers could help with them.

A pretty serious weather front arrived by the time we got the horses in. We were able to spend a short time with Rusty but we had to get in out of the rain. We did accomplish a few things, however. At first he got very busy in the 20x20 mustang pen. After working him with the bamboo pole for about 15 minutes, we were able to pick up his 12 foot drag line. He was still pretty reactive, however.

The following day the weather was worse. Finally the weather cleared some in the late afternoon and we were able to move Rusty to the round corral. Having a little more elbow room we did some basic line work, taught him to face up and by the end of the session he was starting to lead. In fact we were able to lead him back to his pen using the line.

Rusty is pretty smart. It didn't take him long to learn that facing up to his handler is a good thing. He was very nervous about touching someone's hand. We had to set up a scenario where we offered him a hand, gave him room to close in and check it out, then try to touch his muzzle and nose.

This horse seems to do much better in the round pen than in a 20x20 mustang pen. He will probably respond well to traditional low resistance methods.

A sequence of photos taken in his first round pen workout appear on the right.

More details will follow as Rusty's progresses.

Allowing me to approach to
pick up the lead line

Offering him my hand

Coming up to meet my hand

Making contact

Taking a treat

Heading back to his pen