The Classic Training Scale is like an escalator. It goes both ways, up and down. Sometimes you have to take a step or two, or three, back as you move up the scale from Relaxation to Rhythm, to Contact and Impulsion, and finally to Straightness and Collection. Harley reached the beginning stages of contact, and yet we have gone back to reinforce his relaxation in areas where he hadn't quite gotten there. Although he is relaxed in most situations now, including riding on trails, it has always been difficult for Harley to relax in any riding ring, in a round pen, or on a lunge line.
As I mentioned in a recent post, Harley has improved dramatically at liberty in the round pen, where he no longer runs around frantically, bucking and squealing, but can now wander quietly and enjoy our time together there. A few days ago, we had a HUGE breakthrough in one of the rings where I had turned him loose to stretch his legs and, hopefully, get some exercise. In the past, he either stood by the gate, or walked to the other end and back and wanted to leave. When I had tried to move him around, he became upset and raced around, bucking, kicking, skidding into corners, and getting more and more worked up as he ran, until when he finally stopped, he was shaking and sweating, and was difficult to lead back to his stall. A few times he actually pulled muscles and was lame for several days after an outburst. Because of that, I ceased any attempt to make him move faster than a walk. But he needed to be able to gallop around and use the muscles we aren't using yet during rides. Once again, advice and examples from my trainer, Jane Armour, worked magic.
I turned Harley loose in a large ring, and he quickly walked down to the other end. I hung up his halter and lead on the fence, and walked that direction. He came to me and began following me, hoping to go back to his stall and eat, but I just talked to him and walked away. He followed me a ways, and then wandered off on his own to explore. At one point, he was walking parallel to me, so I decided to use some gentle lungeing cues to see what he would do. He looked over at me, and I pointed to my right, clucked to him, and said, "Harley, Trrrrrotttt!" He looked like he was unsure what I was asking, so I repeated the cues, and off he went at the trot in a large circle around me. I said "Good boy!" over and over, and then he began to canter. My first thought was, "Oh, no, here we go with the mad tearing around again," but he didn't take off. he cantered quietly, so I kept telling him what a good boy he was, and then asked him to trot, and he did! Then he slowed to a walk, went to the rail, and looked over at some horses who were going by. I walked towards him and asked him if he was "all done" which is how we end our round pen sessions. He turned and walked calmly over to me, I patted his neck, and we walked together to the gate. I haltered him, led him out to have some grass, and then took him back to his stall.
This might not seem like a big deal to most people, but those who have dealt with an abused horse, especially one that has been beaten in a round pen or with a lunge whip as Harley has, will understand what a tremendous amount of trust it took for Harley to not react negatively to my cue. In the past, my attempts to get him to trot or canter at liberty in a ring was, to him, me driving him away from me which he took as punishment, and it frightened and angered him. Rather than wave my arms or the lead rope at him, or clap my hands, or chase him, I simply asked him to move, and it worked. One more puzzle piece has slipped into place.
