Over the past couple of months, Xena has become more and more affectionate and noticeably enjoys close contact. Recently, I decided to allow Xena to choose how much time she’d like to spend on affection.
Tonight we’re standing together at her stall doorway. I have my right arm extended, reaching under her jaw, with my hand resting lightly on the right side of her jaw, between her nose and cheek. How long before she moves away? 10 minutes later I need a break and briefly lower my arm, but Xena never moves. 20 minutes later someone asks me why am I still standing there—I was still waiting for Xena to move.
What We Did Tonight
7:20 to 9:10 p.m. = 1 hour, 50 minutesCounting the Minutes No grooming tonight; we’re spending more quiet time together instead. I guess I’m becoming less task oriented.
- Greeting & Friendly Game℠ in her stall.
- Carrot Hunt
Fun and confidence-building as usual.
- Worming Practice
Standing beside her, I looked at her front teeth 4 times, by moving her upper or lower lip out of the way. She was calm, so I placed my index finger in the dental space, resting it on her gums/jaw. She raised her head quite high, but didn’t take a step backward. I didn’t use her halter to restrain her, instead I just rested my hand on the far side of her face.
- Circling Game℠
Our walk-trot departures and transitions are getting better, calmer. I’m concentrating on asking more softly. She enthusiastically turns in and comes to me when I ask her to disengage her hindquarters.
- Slow Hand Carrot Stick™
I’m working on using my carrot stick to ask Xena to do a downward transition on the circle, by switching the stick to my opposite hand. Unfortunately this causes Xena to become quite agitated and trot out of control. Instead we’ll start by practicing slow hand at the walk, on a straight line. That way she can read my body language and the carrot stick and slow/stop as I do.
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