Outdoor School

The outdoor school has long been a source of spooks for Filly. I guess it comes from the fact that she did not have a mum around to teach her the ways of the outdoor life for very long. As a result she does not have an internal library of what should be frightening and what is ok. For a normally raised horse this library is vital to survival in the wild (they are not that many generations from being wild animals after all). If they spook at everything they will waste valuable energy that should be helping see them through lean times. If they spook at nothing they wind up being invited to dinner as the main course. Without this knowledge being passed on from her mum she therfore plays safe and spooks at most things.

At least she did. Since we managed to get her out in the field with a couple of other horses this has improved somewhat. but the outdoor school was still a challenge. Part of my reasoning behind all the visits to the big field was to try and add to her education and it appears to be paying off. In the outdoor school today she was very calm (mostly). Some very nice circling game, falling leaf pattern and figure 8. All of which were "challenging" in the past. We even did the squeeze game with the jump wings again. The added pressure today being the "Place". All ok. (Quote from Pat Parelli "Horses are very perceptive to people, places, changes and things")

Another visit to the field was very pleasant. There were 3 other riders there, one cantering and jumping the little cross country course. Today she looked curious about this rather then spooked. A very pleasant change, and good for my hands ( no rope burn !)