June 20, 2012
They call me Thor.
I have been training the human boss of the Equamore Foundation. What a nuisance, but she insists. She thinks she should be able to walk quietly along side me while I wear a halter attached to a lead rope. I think she walks fine by herself and should leave me alone. But with all the help she has been to Hoover, I am trying to indulge her just a bit.
Last week, she came into my stall with a blue bowl of sweet grain (one of my favorites), and as I was eating it she slipped the halter over my head and attached a lead rope. Don’t think I was tricked; each time she does this I choose the grain, deciding that a couple of minutes of training her is worth it. Into the indoor arena we go. I get more grain, and then she tries to walk along side me. I let her for a moment in appreciation of the grain, and then I bolt and run like crazy, storming through the arena, lead rope flying. I am Thor! The boss gets more grain and again offers the blue bowl. Again I come and eat the tasty treat. To reinforce her behavior I let her stroke me briefly, and then again I bolt and gallop through the arena, rope flying. I am Thor! Over and over, until the boss seems really tired and lets me out into the pasture where I can graze and watch Hoover. I could have run forever, but it seems her lesson has worn her out.
The next day, the boss came into the pasture with the blue bowl. It was full of carrots which happen to be my favorite! No harness, no rope, no trying to walk along side. Just carrots. As a reward I let her have a little rub of my face. The day after that, the boss came into my stall with cut carrots. Again, no halter, no rope, nothing. We are making progress! She just fed me carrots (some by hand, which was the first time I ever let her do that). To reward her behavior, I let her pet me for a moment, and then off I went to check on Hoover and graze in the pasture. Believe me, I have not made a harsh sound to her, I have not harmed her, I have not forced her in any way to bring me these treats. But I think the training is working!
I am Thor and I am an Equamore horse.
