Free lesson in how to get a horse to touch a ball, push a ball, and roll a ball on request
Oct 6th, 2011 by Carolyn Resnick Method
Welcome To My Blog -To Get You Started!
The purpose of my blog is to make a connection with you. I can connect with people all over the world, thanks to the computer, and we can explore and correspond with one another on the experiences we’re having with our horses in our life!
I also use the blog as a way, to educate, to raise consciousness, and to use philosophical viewpoints that will lead to a better relationship with horses; for training, partnering, and performance.
The blog is also here to help support interested people and my students who are learning my method through the educational material I offer and direct coaching. Feel free to ask questions on horse behavior, pecking order, leadership, self-realization, meditation, and the training and performance of horses. I may answer your question, or I may choose it for a blog topic for a later date. Of course, I can’t answer everyone’s questions, but I will read all your comments and I will respond to several questions on each blog.
I look forward to dialoging on the subject of what creates a better connection with a horse. Enjoy!
I will give you a lesson from my new three part series videos, that I will soon be offering in a downloadable program, in how to educate a horse to touch, push and roll a ball to you. In a playful way you and your horse will learn how to work together in a precise manner to learn how to following a specific set course like in agility.
You will have an easier time educating your horse to engage playing with a ball if you have already developed the Waterhole Rituals with your horse. This is because of the partnership, communication, and teamwork skills you have acquired from their practice.
Benefits for the Waterhole Rituals and my focus working with horses
Once I have the Waterhole Rituals developed on my horse, I have a horse that is eager to learn new things like playing with a ball. Once I have the Waterhole Rituals as my foundation, my horse has an ability to learn new tasks easily. My focus is to keep building the horse’s interest to accomplish new tasks. In doing this, the horse continues to grow his capacity to learn. It builds the horse’s reasoning skills. I am looking for the horse to use all this ability to think, reason and respond. Putting him to work in this way brings more meaning and enjoyment to a horse’s life experience and creates a well-rounded and well-adjusted horse. Working with the Waterhole Rituals brings you more ability to keep the horse under control without having to be actively controlling.
Why work at liberty before you train with tack
From the practice of the Waterhole Rituals, a person develops a deeper understanding in how to work with and lead a horse without the need of tack. This way when you use tack, you use it in the way that it was meant to be used – to enhance your ability to communicate rather than restraining the horse to control him.
The importance of socializing with horses
Taking the time to socialize your horse in how to communicate with you and follow your lead is invaluable because the interactions you share with a horse at liberty, bring out this attitude.
Because the culture of horses is based on pecking order, it is important to develop a horse’s understanding that he must respect and follow your lead over his desire to lead and control you. It is very important to make an effort to get a horse to accept your leadership. Horses require that their relationships be developed by interactions where they work out who is going to be the leader and who is going to be the follower. Horses that have no desire to control you also need to be developed in their willingness to follow your leadership. Once you have developed a partnership with your horse and your horse has chosen you as the leader, from your efforts to become his leader, you are able to work with your horse in harmony because your communication is clearly understood and because both you and your horse are on the same page.
Developing a partnership with a horse creates the order you will need to train your horse to do precise interactions like moving a ball through a set course and being able to pass it back and forth between the two of you. In precision, we can connect with life deeply and to share it with a horse is magical.
How to start playing and educating your horse to interact with you with a ball.
I begin the lesson by asking him to stand still so I have my horse’s full attention and cooperation so that he will pay attention to what I am going to do next. Horses learn easily through observation. Once he will stand still on his own I bring in a ball to the schoolyard. I then push the ball around the schoolyard and when I get back to where the carrots are, I offer my horse a carrot. I repeat this for two or three minutes or however long it takes for the horse to get comfortable with the ball and get the idea of how important it is that the ball comes back to where the carrots are. When your horse is relaxed and into the game, we can then move onto the next step.
The next step
When you get back from your trip around the schoolyard you look at your horse and say, “touch the ball” and then wait. Give your horse a carrot for any movement that shows more interest for the ball. Upon waiting for a period of time and your horse shows no interest, give him a carrot anyway. Another thing that will build a horse’s enthusiasm is to ask the horse to touch the ball only once and then wait until your horse touches it before he gets a carrot. This will help your horse to process so that your horse will touch the ball to get a carrot on his own. You also want to practice with your horse how to wait to touch the ball from your request as well. This helps to build the enthusiasm to touch the ball because in the waiting, there is no carrot. He learns that touching the ball is a privilege.
Another way to start your touching a ball lesson:
- If your horse will not touch the ball from what I have suggested, this might help to get him started. Just touch him with the ball yourself and then give him a carrot. In no time at all he will touch the ball.
- This video will get you a started. Let me know how you do and if you like, please send a video of your experience. I will pick a couple out to respond to.
A suggestion in what kind of ball you can use
- Most often I use a regular exercise ball, so if you do not have a big ball, you can easily buy a yoga ball for less then $20.00 at a discount store.
Have a great weekend and remember to watch out for new horse and human sightings.
May the horse be with you.
Warmly,
Carolyn
I’ve just heard from Mark at HorseConscious that the launch discounts for Linda Kohanov’s new program ‘The Power Of the Herd Web Symposium’ will be ending TODAY, so grab one while you still can. Get all the details at http://bit.ly/3_PowerOfTheHerd and claim your discount before they expire.
This video is a teaser of the lesson on how to teach a horse to push a ball. Push a Ball is a three series video from my new video line, Carolyn’s journey lessons – to the heart of the matter, which we are about to release, soon to be announced on the blog site. The first of the series and part of the Insider Circle and Extended Circle video lessons in my online classroom.
Related posts:
Interesting I ran into an article on how to play with a ball.
I’ll give a little bit of background first I guess:
I have a 5 1/2 year old miniature horse gelding (Mirage). I have been working with him since he was 2 1/2. He is my first (and only so far) horse.
When I first started working with him I did not own him yet; I was just working with him and helping to train him to drive. A lot of the time it seemed like I was forcing him to do things. He seemed to take it in stride though.
A year later I bought him and at this point I would say we have a pretty good relationship. To break up the routine of driving I taught him to longe….but that was boring so I figured I’d try to start teaching him “tricks” (what I really wanted was to train him at liberty. I saw the dancing horses in Lake Geneva Wisconsin, and thought it would be so awesome to have that kind of relationship with my horse.)
He will “wait”, standing still at liberty until I either call him or walk up and release him.
I also taught him to come when I call. We’re still working on building up distance with this one. At first he would kind of think about it, then slowly walk up to me. He was nervous about this partially because the lead horse out there went after him for this. It took a few sessions in the herd, but now a dirty look, or a shift in body weight by me will stop the lead horse and get him to mind his own business again. Now Mirage will immediatly turn and strut right past the lead horse out there (which really impressed me since he is the low-man on the totem pole). He now comes when I call from 70 ft.
Now I’m not saying we don’t have our bumps in the road. The one that we’re having the toughest time with is shying at things.
That’s where the Ball comes into play. This quirk really came to light the day I tried playing with the equi-soccer ball. That horribly scary, 36 inch tall yellow and blue ball. I convinced him to walk up to the ball, touch it, and push it with his front legs/chest. However it was when I tried to touch HIM with the ball he decided he wanted no part of it.
He is very quick to scoot his hindquarters away from things. In his mind, it seems, nothing must EVER touch his flanks……nothing weird anyway. I’ve now seen it with a lot of things we do. He’s suspicious of random objects, which is in the horses’ nature.
It took about 20 minutes. But I was eventually able to roll the ball full circle around him, in both directions, touching him all over with it without him moving. Although, I will say he wasn’t exactly thrilled about it.
I guess I’m wondering why he puts his trust in me out in the paddock (with that not-so friendly lead horse) but isn’t so willing to do so around new objects?
Thank you for taking the time to read; I know it’s alot.
~Liz~
Dear Carolyn,
I just found this wonderful video of an Italian ‘San Fratellano’ stallion, having a ‘ball with a ball’
! He’s giving himself quite a gymnastic workout!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EFZyep5Dr9Y
Hope you’ll enjoy it as much as I did!
Best wishes,
Marja
Checking in and apologies for being absent for a while! I will email you!
with love
Carolyn B
How important are the carrots in this exercise? I am wondering if I can modify this for a weanling that isn’t treat oriented?
Juno and I haven’t played with a ball for a while. When we did, I learned her to touch and follow it by putting a piece of carrot under the – big – ball. Once she understood there was sometimes a carrot under it, she couldn’t wait to kick it away! Of course this didn’t teach her to throw it in a specific direction, we both ran together after it, I had to be quick to put a carrot under!
Nice to hear there are new videos coming!
Checking in- great video. Your patience and gentle way is always inspiring Carolyn! Thanks for sharing this video.
all good things,
Laura
Hello Carolyn, loved your video lesson with the ball. I bought one of those exercise balls last year at a garage sale for $3. Magnum can touch it, push it with his nose and sometimes kick it. Haven’t played for awhile. Need to get it back out. Kathy thanks for sharing your video also. I’m with Gisela. I would love to ride bareback on my horse and have fun with the ball. Blessings to all~Lisa and Magnum.
nice video! inspiring, indeed!
love, Natalie.
Hi Carolyn
I have played with a smaller ball in the round pen asking them to chase it. I will first ask for the touch, then I roll it and we go after it. Soon I can kick the ball around and they will chase after it and touch it, sometimes kick it and then wait for their treat. I want to get a bigger ball as well. The horses seem to love controlling that ball.
Blessings,
Regina
Dear Regina,
That is a great idea. If you like send a video.
Thanks
Carolyn
Funny and timely once again, I bought my colt a ball with a handle on for his 1st birthday pressi last saturday. He was neither frightened nor interested so I will try what you have decided once it cools down. It is over 40C degrees and everyone seems a bit listless in the heat.
I enjoyed watching the videos. I have to buy a bigger ball. We have just been playing with a small ball!
Hi Carolyn, I just bought “Naked Liberty” and “Intro to Waterhole Rituals” DVD. I’ve watched the DVD and will start the book shortly. I have a 10 year old Suffolk Punch gelding (Jake), a 15 month old Percheron/Quarterhorse cross filly (Raven), and an 8 year old Percheron/Thoroughbred cross mare (Fiona). I am not a rider — I do farmwork with my horses (dragging pastures, logging, harrowing, etc.) I don’t use a bit or blinders and have soaked up all the “natural horse training” methods I can find. I do all my own training and am passionately committed to following a path that respects the horse and moves toward the willing, soft relationship I (and so many others) crave and that you show in such an inspiring way. Do you ever work with draft horses? Do you have any quick thoughts about any differences in working with “cold bloods”? While I have been working with Jake for almost 7 years (he came to me as a 9 month old), I see numerous holes in our relationship and deeply want to meet him on his terms, as well as “getting our work done” on the farm. And follow the same path with my filly, Raven, as she grows into Jake’s work partner. Fiona is a rescue and was injured before she came to me, so she is a sweet and loyal companion to them both. Thanks for your excellent materials, and I’m very excited to follow your blog and help with my horses. I learned of you through Stormy May’s “Path of the Horse” DVD.
Excellent – thank you! I have a better understanding of the ‘how to’ now with the part about going back to the food… A while back when playing with a (yoga/gym) ball, I noticed my horses wanted to pick it up. I put a snug fitting small holed hay net around it & then they were able to pick it up. That was fun! (I used the small hole design & put it on snug for safety).
Dear Carolyn,
This “ball play” sounds like so much fun. I have a friend that has two horses. One is afraid of the ball and the other is not. My question is, could you have both horses in the round pen while working with the one who is not afraid, so the other one can watch and learn or is it better to work with one horse at a time?
Linda
Dear Linda,
A bigger area might be better to work your horses in unless it is a great big round pen, the two ways you suggest are both a good approach.
Carolyn
Carolyn,
I have a question. Have you tried to or considered making a video on how to train a horse to urinate in a bucket full or pile of shavings that is not their bed? I am interested in trying this with True, especially since she is the most fastidious horse I have ever met. All her poop is in a specific spot usually tucked away in a corner of whatever paddock she is in. She actually waits to use her shaving pile returning to her stall or marks it every time she comes in to her stall, I am currerntly not sure which of those two. She never soils her legs however. The rest of the horses do whatever anywhere, but not her. My old horse who has now passed on was the same. She has actually improved one of the horses poop placement by him sharing territory with her in her paddock. Any ideas? Could be both fun and useful? I have heard they housebreak the mini’s that do the Guide-Horse-Assistance.
Leanna
Checking in.
Your video gave me a lot of insight into some things I could try with Gingy. The thing I noticed the most in the video was how nicely Dream Catcher just stood there waiting for the next request. I would like to show Gingy how to stand and wait politely.
Thanks again,
Grace.
Thanks for the great video Carolyn!
So funny, but I brought one of these balls into the arena with Buck the other day, it was the first time I’d ever done such a thing. He wasn’t afraid of it, he was curious and touched it right away, but I couldn’t get him to interact with it any further. He just stood there watching me run around the arena pushing the ball. I was wondering how I could engage him and then you send out this video! Thank you for reading my mind.
Best,
Michele
Hullo Carolyn
I am very excited to know you will be having a video line.
I loved watching your ball video – I will be exploring this with Rassi who takes more time to learn games. Rami makes a game out of anything but
these moves will help to keep him focused on the ball rather than the video
or the cd player. Marcel and I are on the journey and having fun.
I went to see my three horses today – the paddocks were very wet as the rain has been heavy and constant.
A storm was threatening and Marcel was hanging over the fence asking me for
a game- so we had to improvise as the arena area was to wet to use.
Here is a video clip on some fun we had with the ball.
http://youtu.be/9hcy2mE08U8
warmest wishes
Crissea
Dear Crissea,
What a great video. What a great idea to use the feed pan. I wish I had thought of that. The video has great value because you get to see your horse learn right in front of our eyes to pick up the ball. The other thing I really like is how your horse waits for you while you are working with the ball and would not want his interferences. I liked the music as well.
Thank you for sharing,
Carolyn
Carolyn,
Thank you again for the wonderful post. I see a very useful piece of infomation here for my work with True and that is to have her wait andnot have her carry out the task with the ball until asked. It will go very nicely with the waiting(and standing back until invited forward) we are doing when I put the feed in(Why didn’t I do that with all the horses years ago? I was spending so much time on happy ears! and having them touch me before eating, but they were still in my space.) You last couple of blogs have turned on the light about the quality of the wait as well. But then, in rereading the post I see so many more details that are in your instruction that will make it a so much more understandable and less stressful pathway in the learning process for the horses. I am not sure I would have appreciated all the little details you have put into this lesson if I hadn’t played with balls with each of the horses in our little herd, trying different ways depending on who they are to play ball with us. This is going to be so much easier and faster for both my horses and all your students, so again I will say thank you for your work and effort presenting these opportunities to us and I look forward to this new video series.
What a nice video. I have to give my horse a go at that. He so love carrots. You are so clever. I have got a ball, My dakota, was not interested in, at all with, but not too afraid of either. I’m going to try your carrot trick. It just might work. Thankyou my friend.
Dear Tamara,
You migh like to look at Crissea’s video as well. She puts a ball in a food dish. This will motavate a horse to push the ball out to get the food you have put under the ball. I have may times put the food under the ball but this can be harder of a horse to see the challenge than putting it in his food dish. It also encourages a horse to stay with it and put a lot of effort into pushing it out of the dish.
I especially like how Crissea’s video shows how her horse learns from observing Crissea showing him what she wanted him to do.
Warmly,
Carolyn
Carolyn,
This is such a revelation. It is so true that had Spirit Dancer not known the Waterhole Rituals, she would not display trust and the willingness that she showed. I love this video and your method so much. You can really see the connection and the try. iIt is so beautiful.
It is so much more satisfying and adventuresome. Thank you
Lilaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa
Carolyn,
Enjoyed the video.
I worked with a Jolly Ball (small one) in my paddock with my mustang. I realized that he gets bored easy and needed more stimuli. He loved the ball, and used to play a game with me to see who could “get the ball first”. I would kick it and we would both run for it. If he got there first and picked it up, he would get a treat. If I got there first, I would kick it hard and the game would begin again. My lab loved the action and he would sometimes take off with the ball; the horse in hot pursuit. Funny thing, when the dog stoped, the horse would wait for him to drop the ball and then very carefully look at me and pick up the ball. It was great fun.
I haven’t played that game in quite a while. We have been doing other things. I will have to start again. The weather here in Wisconsin is very warm for October (high 70′s to low 80′s!); I should take advantage of this weather while it’s here. Thanks for your blog, and have a lovely weekend.
Toni
checking in
Thank you for this video! So many fun things to do with a horse besides riding them! I can see how this activity strengthens the bond, and makes the horse braver. Can’t wait to try it!
QUOTE From the practice of the Waterhole Rituals, a person develops a deeper understanding in how to work with and lead a horse without the need of tack. This way when you use tack, you use it in the way that it was meant to be used – to enhance your ability to communicate rather than restraining the horse to control him. UNQUOTE
Dear Carolyn, just to let you know that I fully agree with you I have put this QUOTE UNQUOTE from your text here.
However, still the majority of riders, and then I am talking about riders that take part in competitions and are dealing with poles that are supposed not to fall down from the jumps or judges that are supposed to give honest points so the rider and his horse can be promoted to the next level, have no interest in the WHRs.
I think I have mentioned this before.
And I am mentioning it again. Not because I am of the opinion that you are wrong. FAR FROM THAT. Please do not misunderstand me. YOU ARE COMPLETELY RIGHT.
I had and still have this strong feeling that it is best to try and meet somewhere in the middel. In the middle where the traditional rider does not get the feeling that he/she has to abandon all he has learned so far. Too many horses have sacrificed their lives already trying to get the message across to us humans.
Still the majority of those humans that are being involved with horses in one way or the other somehow lack the courage to leave their comfort zone.
I respect that.
Not all of them are prepared to enter chaos. They do not know that chaos leads to a new reality. And even though there are a number of people who have already gone through a lot of chaos and know and can tell about the worthwhile transition they have made, also leading to the improved well being of their horses, there is only a small portion of the riders that have sufficient faith to make the step towards chaos.
I want to give you an example:
A new student of mine, having trained with David de Wispelaere, a wellknown Belgian dressage trainer who travels to different countries to train students, therefore comes to Holland on an irregular basis. Not very handy for a beginning rider. She decided after 2 lessons having been inspired by me and the 3rd , last lesson, with me that her horse got all confused and she as well and that that would be a reason for her not to continue with my instruction. A couple of years back I would have thought that I wasn´t good enough. Now I know it has nothing to do with being good or bad. It has all to do certainly in this situation about the student not being prepared to explore new ways. Not being ready yet also for new ways. The student being still too much attached to traditional ways and feeling uncomfortable about having to leave her comfort zone. The same applies to the horse of course. The horse had been challenged again to use his brain and the rider wasn´t capable yet to lead her horse in this new situation.
It is also about being a leader. Many people still think that a leader should have a title. I do not have a title anymore as I do not compete anymore. The title I did have years ago when competing at sub top level and training at top level is being forgotten by people. Just as well. It gives me the opportunity to experience that a real leader has no title. Does not need a title. I can recommend Robin Sharma´s THE LEADER WHO HAD NO TITLE.
Just like a rider not needing points from judges to be a good rider. And with good rider I mean a rider that rides in a way that does not ´sabotage´ the horse physcially, emotionally and mentally.
The difficult part here is that most riders do not know. They are unaware. They are not mis-using their horses by purpose.
Another example:
Not until the horse gets injured. Goes through a long period of recovery, taking all the time and energy and money of the rider to get his horse healed. The rider starts riding the horse again ever so carefully and after a short while the horse gets injured again. Same spot.
The way of training has not been changed.
The behaviour of the horse has not changed. Grinding his teeth. Swishing his tail.
When I very gently suggest that perhaps it would be worthwhile to also take a look at the horse from an ´energy´ point of view (I don not dare to mention a NESSCAN yet, for example) the reaction is that she knows that I look ´deeper´ but that that is not her way of looking. And that she will be going back to the vet for another checkup the next day and if the vet says that nothing more can be done “well yeah I don´t know what will happen then“. That being an example of a reaction that still most of the riders will give, there is another horse that has sacrificed himself .
Another example of sacrifice:
There is this group of Russians travelling in a bus. They are returning from a sjamanic trip to the Altai mountains in Siberia. They are on their way back to the border with Mongolia. The trip takes 4 hours. It is already late. The bus is driving in the middle of nowhere. There are no streetlights there. There is only the light from the starts. It is dark, almost pitch dark. Then suddenly all occupants of the bus are almost thrown out of there seats. The bus swerves off the road and manages to get to a halt. Everyone gets a terrible shock. They get out of the bus and see a hump on the road. At closer inspection they discover it is a horse. A wild horse. Dead. Mobile phones can´t be used. There is no reach. They manage to drag the dead horse out of the way and the busdriver manages to get the bus back on the road again. There is complete silence in the bus.
How could this have happened. In this vast area. Only nature. Where there is lots of space. That this wild horse should cross the road at the same moment the bus is driving past.
Why has this hose sacrificed himself??
What is the message behind this ´accident´?
Is the message only meant for the group of Russians? Or is the message more universal??
I leave it here.
Wishing you, Carolyn, all your horses, everybody on the blog and those not (yet) on the blog a very good weekend..
Take care and be well.
Geerteke
Dear Carolyn, my first response without having fully read your post is about the WHRs.
With all my horses so far I have ´walked´ them like walking a dog on a leash. As soon as the out-in-the-field-season was over I took my hosres for a walk to a grassy area to let them graze. frequently to tell them to stay in my vicinity. I know it is not what you prefer but again at that time I had no clue of any WHRs.
However, with Marcello it is a completely different ball game. Figuratively. Funny that I use this expression in the light of your post:-))..
Marcello does stay close. Even when I move a couple of steps away from him sometimes he makes sure the lungeline is never pulled. At first I did not notice it. Then when I did notice I checked if it was really true. And then the instance occured that I saw his eye focussed on me while he was grazing.
It gives me the feeling of the so-called flexible boundaries.
He understands now that he has to wait for my ´approval´ before he dives into the grass with his nose. He turns his head towards me as if asking ´can I´ ´may I´.
And when the grazing is over, sadly for him but standing in the rain and wind for over an hour even when dressed warmly enough is not very comfy, I only have to ´cluck´ a couple of times for him to bring his head up and follow me back to the stables.
Thanks to the WHRs it has made this piece of ´training´ easier.
Be well, Geerteke
This is lovely Carolyn, I’m certainly going to pick it up again with my girls! Have done some ball work with them ages ago but actually forgot about the ball for a long time, so I’ll first have to fill it up with air again
!
.
I’ll see if I can make a video of our attempts (when the rain will stop).
Have you been well lately? Have been missing you on the blog for a week or so, but probably you were just very busy with the WRIC and other stuff
Have a nice weekend!
Marja
Dear Marja,
I am well. Thank you for asking. I hope you are doing well too. I love your video and hope you send me more of them. I am reading my blog everyday. I have my class, the webzine to put together, training videos to make, working students who are taking lessons. I have many projects. But this is not why I have not written as much. Lately, the comments seemed not to be needing a personal response from me, that is the only reason I have not been writing, but I assure you that I am reading and keeping up with my blog.
The last two days I have been at the computer for 10 hours, along with working a horse or three. I also am focused on giving Apollo a good life, taking him to the beach and allowing him to be with me when working with horses. This is a big undertaking because he is now off leash and likes to get into trouble. I also have my mother to take care of. She is well but requires my full focus as well. She is 90 and sometimes does not know how to take care of herself. I need to keep watch on her daily progress and I need to have food for her three times a day. Oh yes there is shopping. She does not have much of an appetite so I must be sure she eats.
I care for my front door flowers, working on developing the ranch a little more. Listening to my water fountain while I am at the computer. I am very happy. I love my blog and would not want for people to think I have lost interest. I am alive and well in Escondido.
I have a working student form Spain at this time with me and that keeps me very busy. He is here to become an instructor.
I figured if my bloggers are happy reading my blog entries my work here is done unless a person writes to me like you just have. And believe me I am happy to respond.
I like to talk about happiness, meditation and being used as a teacher. I also would love to talk about training a horse and human for dressage. My favorite subject other than Apollo and meditation is my method.
Thank your for asking,
Carolyn
Dear Carolyn,
. I’m amazed at how you manage such a full and busy life!
!
!
I’m glad you are well
I certainly wasn’t thinking you had lost interest in your blog. You don’t seem like the kind of person who loses interest in her students, on the contrary! It was just that I noticed you hadn’t replied on your blog for a while, whereas before you did quite frequently. So I thought you might perhaps be ill or something; after all you’re just a human being like all of us
Besides I’m a lover of communication. I like the interplay between people writing and others replying a lot. Just like the interaction of request and reply between humans and horses
Take care,
Marja
Hello Carolyn!
I tried to teach Bonito to play with the ball, but I could not get him to roll it, and I am sure it is because I did not ask him to wait and touch the ball only on my request.
I am really looking forward to seeing the new video line!
Have a nice week-end
Elodie
Hello Carolyn,
Yesterday I found out it is so true what you just said about after a horse learns the Waterhole Rituals that he is eager to learn new things. We have an “X Marks the Spot” in our yard that is where we work on stuff, such as the Uberstreichen Exercises or the one bucket game, and that is almost the only place we do that stuff. Yesterday when Elmo was out and about in his five acres and I was picking up poop, he came to his workout spot, stood square, ears perky and looked at me with anticipation. It was quite amusing. I stopped the poop patrol and we did some clover leaf patterns around his favorite red bucket.
Your “Push A Ball” video and blog are wonderful. I too, can’t wait to work on this more. We have been experimenting with a ball and I am including a short video for you to see what we have been doing. http://youtu.be/hoZd70IRlnE
Kathy Cavanah
Nice video Kathy, Elmo LOVES the ball, that’s for sure
!
I really enjoyed watching your video, Kathy. I loved that you were riding him bareback while doing it. That’s just so great! Oh, someday, I would love to do that with my horse. Wonderful relationship you both have.
Wonderful! I can’t wait to try this!