Stand Still Would You Please!

Standing is one of those things a horse can do for twenty or so hours a day. So it's interesting that getting the horse to stand is a challenge.

The past two videos are really about the same problem - Standing while Saddling, Standing while Mounting and just as easily standing while I brush you could be the third in the sequence.

These problems rarely show up in one session and usually take twice as long to fix as they took to be created. Just as Saddling Sydney didn't end with that video, that was just the beginning. Each session since has been better - one of these days I'll go out and well it will be done.

What I have noticed is going through the process of getting Sydney to stand while saddling has translated to - she is better when brushing, light years better with her feet, she will move over to where I'd like to get on, these days it is a snowbank and all round her manners are better.

All it took was the decision that something had to change. Once I made that decision I needed to continually support and reinforce my own behaviours so I was consistent. Sydney certainly has been - now it is my turn.