Great Success! Very Nice!

I know, the Borat lines are probably getting old...but hey, they say everything I need to get across about yesterday's appointment with L!!

We let Stella loose in the roundpen while we talked for a bit. L wanted to get a bit clearer picture of what exactly I was looking to accomplish with her, so she mosied around the enclosure while I described to L what I was hoping for: I told her Stella had been a little difficult to get really close to, and that there was a layer of trust and willingess that was lacking as the foundation of our work. I told her she'd been backed to saddle, W/T/C and basic lateral movements but I could tell the element of trust was missing the further into her training we got. Cut to the chase, 20 minutes later and I mentioned that Stella had very rarely willingly followed me around. So we started there.

Before we incorporated Stella into the picture, L led me through some grounding exercises for myself, things that I could do before I even got Stella from her stall that would help me get centered, focused and present for her. We did some deep breathing, practicing noticing and purposefully softening the parts of my body where I held tension. All the while Stella wandered around with her nose in the dirt. Several times she came over to investigate. She'd stand by us, nuzzling our boots or our coats, nipping at our zippers. She had no problem asserting herself into our personal space. L never punished her or pushed her away. Instead, at one point she started to twirl her arms around herself in a circle, establishing her space. Stella got poked a couple times in the face when she tried to put her head into the circle, but figured out after a minute that the circle was not somewhere for her to be. L said one of the important things was not to reprimand her for being curious and investigative, something we want to encourage, but to simply establish where my space is and show it to her clearly. She would figure it out on her own, and she did.

We then moved on to what L called creating an energy circle. It sounds a little out there, but the logic behind it is pretty simple. If I wanted Stella to follow me, and thus act "followerish", I had to act like a leader, and move and behave in a way that's "leaderish". If I don't demonstrate that I can be a secure leader, Stella can never have the confidence to follow. L walked with me in a large circle around the outskirts of the roundpen. She showed me how to move from my center, taking steps that were grounded, looking up and out through soft eyes and breathing from my core evenly and rhythmically. We did this for a few minutes. Stella watched us intently, following us with her eyes and ears. Once or twice she began to follow but stopped and moved to a different spot to watch us better. I knew what she was contemplating, but I could see the uncertainty in her eyes as she observed. Finally, after about 10 minutes, she ambled up behind us and came shoulder to shoulder with me. L stayed with me for a moment and then said she was going to move to the center of the round pen and leave us alone. Stella stayed right with me, matching my strides and pace.

When L finally told me to slow my pace and choose a spot to stop, Stella stayed with me and halted evenly with my shoulder. I lavished praise on her, scratched her favorite spot at her withers. She responded by curling her upper lip and tilting her head in appreciation. After a few seconds she started to reciprocate on my arm, grooming my coat sleeve. We continued like this for a couple minutes.

I can't even begin to explain how excited I am. This what exactly what I was hoping for, and it all happened without any coercion or frantic running or pressure. Stella decided for herself after watching us walk around. I couldn't be any happier.

I'll email L in a couple weeks as I try this on my own for a while. We'll see where it takes us; she said she had a lot more to show me if I was willing, and why wouldn't I be?