The idea of taking Xena for a walk outdoors, sounds more innocent than it is. I’m concerned about her frequent spooking, although in the past two months I’ve become quite used to handling her. I’m expecting the outdoors to be challenging, partly because of the unknown and partly because all the other horses will be in the barn.
What We Did Today
9:30 to 11:05 a.m. = 1 hours, 35 minutesCounting the Minutes I’ve chosen the east shoot for our first walk because it’s somewhat protected, being enclosed on three sides, and it’s not too big — about 45 x 160 feet. My plan is to build Xena’s confidence slowly using approach and retreat.
On our first attempt, we walk about 20 feet from the barn, before Xena becomes hesitant. So, we turn back until we reach a point where she begins to relax, carries her head lower and licks her lips. We pause at this safe spot for a minute or two. Then we turn around and begin walking away from the barn once again.
We repeat this pattern 4 or 5 times, but each time I shorten the retreat distance to a new safe spot, because Xena is becoming more confident. By the end of the session she is able to walk the entire 160 feet to the end of the shoot.
On our walk back to the barn we randomly play Circling Game℠, Yo-yo Game℠, hide your hiney, Sideways Game℠ and finallly Squeeze Game℠ with the pasture fence and water trough.
A great achievement for our first walk!
This game came about by chance, at a time when Xena and I were still relative strangers. I was at the barn one evening to visit her, except she wouldn’t come to the door of her stall to see me. I was hesitant about entering the stall — a nervous horse in a confined space can be a dangerous situation. So instead I settled for peering through the bars; watching as she ate her hay. Whenever she raised her head, I’d move to the right for a better view. But at the same moment, Xena would move to the left, positioning her head behind the doorframe and water bucket.
‘Put your hand on your heart and your heart in your hand.’
Xena's YouTube Channel