GIVING THEM THE SACK

Dec 13

            I sacked the Icys out today with a towel. In order of tolerance from best to worst, Sam, Treat, Trick, Bleu and then Shiloh. They were all much better with picking up their feet. I was able to pick Bleu’s back feet again. I touched all their back legs. However, Shiloh was having a meltdown because he didn’t want to be touched. He has actually gotten a bit worse since I have been working with them. Not sure why. He may be feeling better or has just decided he doesn’t want to follow directions. He was the only one who pawed while he was tied and then would rear up and cause a fuss. He still is one of the best to lead, but anything further than that he resents. I think it is his personality and we will just have to work through it. By the time I was done (2 hours of going up and down the line with my towel) he was much better, but still flinchy. I have to remember that they are wild ponies and that I have only had them about six weeks. Not very long for them to learn all the stuff they need to know just to be functional in the barn, let alone trained to do something.

            The one I was a bit surprised at his behavior was Bleu. He is usually the quietest and he lets me do his feet the best, including the hind ones, but he was beside himself with this towel sacking. Funny thing is that I have sacked him(and Shiloh)before and he got over it very fast. Today he just couldn’t wrap his head around the thing touching him and swinging around him. By the end he would stand still, but he was so tense he was a time bomb. I’ll keep working with him to see if he will be more accepting. Bleu and Shiloh were tied next to each other and would play off the other when I was working with them. I may need to put them in different places.

            Sam was a star. He was a little worried at first, but he got over it and didn’t do any Airs Above the Ground like the others did. Surprisingly, Treat was very good. I expected him to do some pulling and trying to get away, but he settled down very fast and didn’t fall back into panic when I came back to him. He is a funny guy. Though one of the least worked with originally, he has adjusted quite fast. He is inquisitive and smart. Trick is as well. He was a pretty good boy too. These two are who I think will be the wheelers of the 4-in-hand. They are solid in body. Hopefully they will be solid in mind as well.

            They are all standing around sweating. The temperature has stayed above 50(almost to 60) degrees and they are not handling the warmth well. I am pretty sure I will have to give them some kind of clip when they settle down enough. Once the towel is not a problem, then I will start getting them used to the clippers. I need to clean up their faces for sure and probably do a clip on their necks and chests so they can get rid of the heat. I already knew they would have to be clipped each year, just not so soon.