All last summer, Zum stood perfectly still while I put on his hackamore. I did a lot of groundwork with a focus on stopping and standing still. He learned that whenever I say ‘Ho’ he must stop moving and he must not move until I tell him to. When he stops and stands still, he is rewarded with lots of praise.
I am putting the bit into Zum’s mouth finally! I stand next to him on his left side by his face. I put my right hand on his forehead putting pressure down. As he lowers his head, I put my left thumb into the side of his mouth and slip the bit inside. I cannot be in a hurry. I have noticed that the less threatening I am about it, the more cooperative Zum is. Fighting a horse makes a horse more aggressive. I release pressure on his head when he responds properly and I position a treat so he has to lower his head even more!
I am learning how to get better at seeing, doing, feeling and understanding Zum. Zum never hides how he feels. There is no difference between how he feels and how he acts.
I have become a big part of the process of training and caring for Zum. As long as I am involved with Zum everyday, give him guidance, try hard, make mistakes, get it right, fall down and get back up again, there is no magic, training tools or techniques as good as me.
Prior to saddling and riding, I make touching Zum on his chest, neck, hips, head, stomach, ankles and withers an everyday occurrence. I stand by his side and gently rub his back while he is eating. I always give him a strong hug after he does something I ask him to do. Zum loves solid body-to-body contact with me.
My biggest goal now is to put the snaffle bit into Zum’s mouth!
Once Zum recognizes that I am controlling not only his movement but also the direction of his movement without causing him any pain, Zum will begin to respect and trust me. I want to regain Zum’s respect and trust in me more than anything else!
Zum learns from everything that I do. Anytime I am with Zum, I need my body language to reassure him that he is doing what I want. Today I was able to control his movements to make sure he did what I asked him to. I was able to keep us both safe while having fun on the trail. This entire teaching process is now becoming a positive experience for both Zum and I. All my encouraging words and rewarding pets have helped Zum to develop confidence in me and my leadership. I finally feel like a leader again!
With help, I am learning to feel brave with Zum again. My confidence will be better once I am able to put the saddle on Zum’s back and full cheek snaffle bit in Zum’s mouth by myself!
I have decided that Zum is an empath. Human empaths can feel other people’s emotions intensely. I have met a few human empaths. Many of them have to contract their awareness and escape into addictions, selfishness and indifference to cope with the waves of feelings constantly coming at them from others. They don’t realize that being empathic is a gift and must be protected. A true empath needs to be surrounded with harmony, expansion and peace. As long as I keep Zum inspired, interested and happy, he is an amazing and very agreeable horse!
