Suzy
----- Original Message -----
From: Bonnie Beresford
To: haflingerfriends@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Wednesday, February 10, 2010 7:40 PM
Subject: [haflingerfriends] How to capture her heart
Hi Gang,
I joined this group awhile ago when I bought a Haflinger mare and her filly. I haven't posted since then, but I lurk a lot.
I have just moved my mare Folly and her 10-month-old filly, Chance, to a new stable where the owner is a well-known trainer in this area. My first lesson with Folly is Friday. Despite the months I have owned them, I have spent most of my time with Chance. She needed it -- I had to gentle her for handling, then halter-break her, then break her to lead, then teach her to lead well, then I fell in love with her gorgeous temperament and tossed out the whole absurd idea of selling her -- you know how that is! She is an absolute joy to work with.
Her mom is a different story. Folly has never shown the slightest interest in me, or in anyone else, for that matter. She has been broke to ride and drive, and I can catch her, halter her, throw a blanket on her, pick up her feet, longe her in a circle, and I am sure I could saddle her and ride her, probably without incident.
But she just doesn't seem to CARE. I walk up to her in the pasture, I start scratching her withers, I tell her about all the fun stuff we'll do, and she just turns around and walks away! It has been that way from the start.
At first my impression was that she is disappointed in humans. But that's anthropomorphizing too much, assuming horses think like humans. To be more precise, I think that she just doesn't expect anything from people. She is obedient, but she seems to feel "There's nothing in it for me". I don't think she's been abused -- I do think that her permission has never been sought, nobody has really cared what she thought about life.
If I can't capture her heart and get her excited about what we do together, she's liable to bail on me if the going gets rough. The fellow who will be helping me works on the philosophy that you have to make yourself important to your horse, and she has to see you as a leader, someone she wants to be with. I'm very much looking forward to these lessons.
I'd like to update y'all from time to time and get your feedback on this journey, because I love to read about all the fun times you guys are having with your Haffies and how they are just the best breed ever. I just know there's a great mare inside that golden hide! Anyone else out there, please feel free to give me your thoughts on this.
Cheers,
Bonnie
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