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It would be fun to see some videos of you working with Marlea. I know that you only want to share what has worked for you, and that is no more nor less than any other member of this forum. You mustn't take offense if people are a bit hesitant to put a lot of credence in your claims of knowing a lot about Natural horsemanship. You will just have to kind of suck it up and realize that when you are young, you don't have "proof" to back things up yet. It takes time for that. I bet that you have done wonderful things with your pony and your friend's horses and such. And you could demonstrate some of that in video if you had a way to do that. It is just that you may have to wait a bit before you will actually have enough experience under your belt to offer advice that will be readily taken. Doesnt' seem fair, but as you know, it is pretty typical.
Hang in their, offer examples of what you have done and let people take it if they like or pass it aside. If they write you off totally due to your age, then it is their loss not yours.
I do have to say, with regard to your post on leading your mare and creating a better bond, I would not want to do the "lunatic" arms every time. If you suddenly and randomly stop and then if you horse doesnt' quiickly stop you lunatic wave , and do this a lot, you would actually create a nervous horse who isn't sure what to expect when.
You idea is good, but the whole point with such large signalling it to make a big impression, ONCE , so that the next time you only need to make a very small signal.
When I am leading and I want to stop, I try to give my horse a very small PRE stop signal; I shift my upper body backward, THEN come to a firm stop. The horse gets a preperation signal, before being asked to come to a cquick stop. If I give no warning, then it's not surprising that he might stop "late". He cannot read my mind, only my body. If he then chose to ignore the prestop and the stop! Signal, then I would make my signal BIG, like you were explaining. And the next time, I would go back to small presignal and small signal and see if I can get what I want with that. I don't want to scare him , just get his attention.
Does this sound about like what you have been doing? Might be just the difference in how we explain things. I am , and alwyas have been, a long winded person.
Dont' be scared to offer advice on the forum. Just remember that all will not agree. It's the price of going public. You dont' need to answer them, just as tehy don't need to respond to you. But since we do, it makes HF more fun!
