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Post by Sam on Jan 31, 2009 19:00:44 GMT -5
Horse Tempered Passion
Trainer Sam
Purpose Getting use to the sack
The colt snorted at me as he eyed the empty burlap sack in my hands. Luckily for me, it wasn't a windy day. Tim stomped a small hoof as I came over to him, gently brushing the sack across his pelt. He wasn't a spooky horse. He was quite the opposite in fact.
He stood, watching me, as I rubbed the sack along his side over and over again. He glanced back at me, his ears flickering in slight confusion. My thumb pushed down on the clicker in one of my hands. Quickly the two ears pricked up at the sound and turned towards me, expecting his average reward of grain.
As his lips greedily picked up the grain, I rubbed the sack over him again, this time half of it brushing over his back. Good boy, I praised, my voice soft and light as my now empty hand ran down his warm neck decked in his normal winter coat.
Now the sack went completely over his back completely. The colt paid no mind to it now, his attention drifting to something over by the pastures. I didn't bother to look though. Knowing Tim, he was just idly looking around.
A smile swept over my lips as I clicked the clicker, offering him with it his reward of grain. My free hand ran down his neck again before giving him a pat and grabbing his lead rope from my shoulder, clipping it under his chin as he continued to eat the grain my hand.
Such a good boy, I praised as I patted his neck again. Now with my hand empty I started to lead him forwards. His ears darted back and his eyes seemed to widen slightly as if to say "You want me to move with this?!"
Come on now, I said as I backed up a step and tried to lead him on again. This time the dark bay took a hesitant step forwards. The clicker sounded and his lips instantly had grain. Good fella, I said, my tone praising as my now empty hand fell back to the lead rope.
Again, I stepped forwards, asking him to move with me. A snort came from him (as if he was saying "Again?") but he moved with me with confidence in every step. This time we walked ten steps before the clicker sounded again and he received his average grain. Think that's enough for today? I said smiling at his soft lips as they pushed and played with the grain before eating it.
Maybe one more lap then we call it a day? I asked him, as if expecting a response. My now empty hand fell back to the rope that was attached to the halter. My mind was set
With confident steps, both me and Tim walked to the edge of the round pen. Tim didn't seem the least bit bothered by the sack on his back now as we walked around the round pen. After a whole lap we went towards the center and came to a stop. The clicker clicked in one hand as the other offered the usual grain. As his soft lips grabbed at the grain, the other hand pulled the sack off, carefully and slowly so not to spook him and have to start all over again so we didn't end on a bad note.
Word Count 612
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