Moo!


Well, well. I am almost two weeks into my journey with Axel but it seems like so much longer (in a good way haha) not a gosh, I am so bored I feel like I have been working with you forever type way! I already feel I have learned so much about him in the short time he has been with me.

He has things he loves, hugs and attention, veggies and fruits, hay, turnout with his gelding posse, riding and hand walking through the fields and children.

He also has the things he does not love, not even a little bit. So far these have been Cows- they are udderly terrifying! We turned him out next to them a week after he had arrived and he lost the plot a bit. The other thing is clipping. He is actually quite sensitive skin wise and I think the vibrations and tickle feeling was also terrifying, he held his shit together but let both Cara and I know that he was being kind but that the buzzing electronic device was the scariest thing since… well ever!

Of course, I love a few little challenges. With both these terrifying things he has always been conscious of not hurting himself or the people around him which only builds my trust in him. I have been working on desensitizing him to the cows. Which means spending time around that side of the farm and making it a comfortable place. He gets some scratches, some treats and if he feels the need to move away he is absolutely allowed to, but calmly. Each day he gets a little better and a little less concerned. Then of course the clippers aren’t difficult to work on. Most days I just let him investigate them and click and treat for him showing interest in them and being relaxed. He is already choosing to let me touch his sides etc with them so that is brilliant. I don’t want the show horse stuff to become stressful for him, so anyway I can find to make it a nice situation for him and I will do it!

He’s continued to be a superstar this week. He has had Helen from @Helens Hands come and give him a body treatment, we’ve hacked, dressaged, and he has even been perfect for Ethan to ride and he allowed Ethan to have his first canter on the lunge line. He is a goof and a sweetheart and we absolutely love him to bits!

Ethan resting on Axel- love!


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