[PHASE 2] We All Need A Friend

June 8th - Day 8

I’ve placed Pirate in his paddock, and he seems to be relatively happy in it. He’s keeping calm and didn’t fight me when I led him to it so I’m taking that as a win.

I’ve placed him next to Pan, that absolute wonder of a horse can get along with anyone and anything, so my hope is that he’ll encourage Pirate to behave more like a horse.

I’ll be working with Pirate daily in his field with a number of ground activities I usually use on feral horses. He’s by no means feral himself, but I believe exercises designed to build trust between horse and human will be beneficial for him. The more trustworthy he finds me, the more willing he’ll be to listen to me when I’m riding him. In theory.

June 12th - Day 12

Pirate responded pretty well to the ground exercises, but I still can’t get him to voluntarily approach me, he just stands there until I go to him.

I plan on taking him for a short ride today, just from his paddock to the school, and then maybe a few laps around, depending on how he’s feeling. I think it would help me to see how he behaves when he’s got a rider on his back, especially considering that was the main concern the rescue had with him.

June 13th - Day 13

Riding Pirate. It’s certainly an experience. He behaved himself well enough between his paddock and the school, but I suspect that was because he simply had no where else to walk, as I’d blocked off all the gates. Once I got him in the school, he completely stopped listening to my cues, opting instead to walk us towards the nearest patch of grass.

I only used a neck rope on him considering the state of his mouth, but he showed a surprising amount of obedience for the first part of the walk (although, again, I do think that had to do with having no other choices rather than him actually listening to me).

I now understand what exactly the rescue meant in his paperwork, and I can see that I have my work cut out for me.

17th June - Day 17

Pirate approached me in the field today all by himself. I was facing the other way, and I heard him behind me, so I stuck my hand out and he pushed his soft nose into it. I’m so excited, this is exactly the kind of behaviour I’ve been trying to reach with him.

I’ve made the decision to put him in with Pan, I think my boy will be able to teach Pirate quite a lot, and I know my precious Pan loves to meet new faces. They’ve been sniffing over the fence, and I’m confident that they’ll be great together.

20th June - Day 20

Pan might actually be in love. He’s normally smitten by any other horse in with him, sociable boy that he is, but he is actively seeking Pirate out when I separate either one of them to work with them. He seems to very much enjoy the company of his new companion, I caught them grooming each other just this morning.

30th June - Day 30

I’ve now had Pirate a month, and progress has been slower going than I thought it would be initially. He is proving incredibly stubborn with his habit of doing whatever he pleases as soon as I hop on him, and I’m running out of methods to try and break him out of it.

I have one more method I’m willing to try though, and I’m confident that it’ll do something, even if it’s only a start.

1st July - Day 31

I rode Pan around the arena with Pirate on a lead rope, and it actually worked! I used entirely voice commands for walking Pan, and after about 10 minutes Pirate was following them as well, not wanting to wander off whilst his friend was right there.

It’s still not where I want to be with him, but I’m hoping by doing several lessons of this “follow the leader” type exercise, Pirate will be more willing to listen whilst I’m mounted. My next plan is to do this the other way around, with me on Pirate and Pan following on the rope.

I’m glad he’s grown so attached to Pan, I can see a real difference in his behaviour now, and it really feels like he wants to listen, rather than trying to wander off and do his own thing.