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Not very good.
I'm switching back to a bridle and a twisted copper snaffle bit to see if that helps. I had it on him last Friday and we were doing really good, i actually got him to join up with me, but then a big chunk of his hoof broke off where there had previously been a crack and I couldn't ride him.
Hopefully nothing bad happens this Friday, if we even have the trailer to take him.
Just keep working through it.... I am sure you'll eventually get his full trust.
The gelding I have currently is a spooky guy, but he trusts me. Noone else though.
It didn't start out that way though. I got him in the spring from someone who had bought him from New Holland ( slaughter sale) 6 years ago but hadnt done much with him. I could barely get a bridle on him he was so head shy, and he spooked at everything. EVERYTHING. I had to be patient. One time I waited for 1 mintutes in a corner for him to realize I wasn't gonna hurt him and accept the bridle.
Now he is still a little head shy, but not much. He is definetely cautious and a little nervous, but has settled down a lot.
It's all about trust, and it sounds like your working real hard with Dezi to get it. Good luck.
When I first got Dezi, I didn't know he was like this and I brought out some brushes to brush him down. Well, as soon as i got near him with the brush, he started trembling all over, you could see the whites of his eyes and he broke out in a sweat. He every time I lifted it up in the air even a little bit he flinched like he thought i was gonna throw it at him and trembled even harder. It took me a long while for him to figure out i wasn't going to hit him with the brush. Unfortunately, he still thinks I'm gonna slap him with the water hose.
I rarely ever kick him because I all have to do for him to go forward is just cluck or kiss. I've started greeting him the horse way lately and it's been helping some too. Thanks for all the encouragement.
I just wish i could talk to him and ask him what's wrong. But in a way, I can. You know how I bring him to 4-H meetings? Well, one of my leaders and one of my friends told me they watch us and it's like we speak to each other and we have a mental connection. That's why i want to get an Arabian. For me, actions speak louder than words. I believe you can send good thoughts or vibes ( Not the choice of words i wanted but i couldn't think of anything else ) to a horse through your body.
Just between us here, I had a local farrier that came to do our thoroughbred mare. Well, she a little antsy and moving her feet around. He jabbed her right in the ribs with the rasp really hard! And she was pregnant! She hauled back on that fence and ripped up half of the concrete that the wooden post was set in outta the ground. Then, he asked if dad wanted him to help him fix it! He said no and the guy left. We have never used him again. Another farrier said that he threw rocks at her baby colt. Once, I was there and I was holding my mare's head still and stroking her and he told me to get away from her because I was distracting her, she was my horse! I loath him.
And he charged a lot of money!
