Chat
07-24-2016, 07:43 PM
I forgot to mention that I had a small but pleasant breakthrough with Sputnik today. Ever since I introduced him to the bit three weeks ago he has flatly refused to take any treat from my hand. He would take them from someone else but if I offered him one he would turn his nose away with a disgusted pout. But during the last two drives I could see his resolve cracking as he would look longingly at the treat, stretch his nose out toward it, then stubbornly force himself to look away at the last instant. He would only take my treat after the bit was removed at the end of the drive. If he hadn't been taking cookies from Phil behind my back I'd have thought he was unable to chew with the bit in his mouth.
I knew he would give in eventually and today was the day. He started out in his old habit, but about halfway through as I stopped to give treats for about the fourth time, he looked at Finn happily chewing away and he just couldn't stand it any more. He thrust his nose toward my hand in a pleading gesture and gobbled the proffered treat as if he'd been starving. I gave him a few more cookies before the end of the drive and he ate every single one. I think we're both relieved that this battle of wills is finally over.
Oh, and a few days ago we brought some friends along for our goat drive and I let them take turns at the reins. I was very pleased to see that the boys were well-behaved for other people as well as for us. Phil and I did not have to walk with them to make them obey the driver's commands, and we didn't have to walk ahead to keep them going. One of the drivers was an eight-year-old boy, so he was not very skilled with the reins and needed quite a bit of help from either me or Phil walking alongside the cart, but the boys did not take advantage of their novice driver and went along very nicely. The other driver rides horses and was good with the reins. She had the boys trotting way out ahead of us until she got so far away she had to stop and wait for us to catch up. The boys were a little flustered about leaving us behind, but they were nevertheless obedient to their driver. I couldn't have been more proud!
I knew he would give in eventually and today was the day. He started out in his old habit, but about halfway through as I stopped to give treats for about the fourth time, he looked at Finn happily chewing away and he just couldn't stand it any more. He thrust his nose toward my hand in a pleading gesture and gobbled the proffered treat as if he'd been starving. I gave him a few more cookies before the end of the drive and he ate every single one. I think we're both relieved that this battle of wills is finally over.
Oh, and a few days ago we brought some friends along for our goat drive and I let them take turns at the reins. I was very pleased to see that the boys were well-behaved for other people as well as for us. Phil and I did not have to walk with them to make them obey the driver's commands, and we didn't have to walk ahead to keep them going. One of the drivers was an eight-year-old boy, so he was not very skilled with the reins and needed quite a bit of help from either me or Phil walking alongside the cart, but the boys did not take advantage of their novice driver and went along very nicely. The other driver rides horses and was good with the reins. She had the boys trotting way out ahead of us until she got so far away she had to stop and wait for us to catch up. The boys were a little flustered about leaving us behind, but they were nevertheless obedient to their driver. I couldn't have been more proud!