So I officially took Duncan out of training. I'm so thankful that I had people to help me with him from the first day he was there. I was way in over my head and did not have a clue what I was doing. If I hadn't had those people to help me I know I would be one of those horse people who have crazy horses that they just pay board for and are too scared to touch. I am so fortunate that I had help in training him those initial months. Thanks to Gloria, Robyn, Kristin, and Emma!
I made the realization the other day that everything from here on out is up to me. It is kind of a crazy feeling when you realize that your horse's future is in your own hands. Up until now it has been me doing the easy stuff and just having fun with him, and the trainers working him and doing the hard stuff. No longer do I have anyone to fall back on, and even if I am scared, I need to work him, because no one else will. I got a big dose of reality when I got him in from the paddock and he was scared of everything. We could barley get around the arena. I lunged him for awhile, but a welsh cob mare was in the ring, and they were trying to desensitize her. I soon realized Duncan needed a little desensitization of his own. I managed to grab a big scary grain bag and walk him to the round pen. We were both just getting really frustrated because he wasn't getting used to it, and I was getting mad at him. I took a second to reset and put the bag on the ground. I grabbed some treats and came back into the round pen. Duncan was looking a little better about it so I tried having him step on it. He did a little and I made sure to give him lots of reward. After that it turned into a really positive experience, and he kept walking on it and let my rub it on him. He relaxed after that and we walked in the arena and he was a bit calmer. It gave me reasurance that I can do it, and well I think I just scared him.
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