I can read his mind...

Though I'm not a professional trainer by any means, I really enjoy working with animals.  I trained Moose, our little Yorkie-poo, to do all the normal obedience skills, plus a few extra fun tricks for our entertainment.  When you point your fingers at Moose like guns and say "Stick 'em up", he will stand on his hind legs and put his front paws up.  It's just about the cutest darn thing ever.

Moose was very motivated by treats and verbal praise.  Like many dogs, he really wants to please his people and he understands that a treat can be a reward for completing a task.  He learned most of his tricks in less than five minutes.

Nox, like most horses, is motivated by finding the easiest route, or the path of least resistance.  If he thinks it's easier to walk around a pole than over it, that is what he'll want to do.  I've been training Nox to free lunge in both directions and he is doing very well.  At first, it was easier for him to move to the left because he has better balance in that direction.  When I asked him to go to the right, he resisted because it was difficult for him.  He tried to spin around and go the easy way.  My job as a trainer was to make it even more difficult for him to spin around to left.  I would shout and wave my arms and lunge whip, blocking his way and putting pressure on him to turn around.  After several hissy fits, rears, and bucks, he'd eventually move to the right. 

I've kept this up for several weeks, insisting that he walk and trot in a circle to the right so he can build muscle and learn to balance.  Nox's balance is improving, and now I can lunge him to the left, turn him around, and lunge him to the right with hardly any resistance.  I have to pay close attention, however, and watch for signs that he's getting frustrated.  A few days ago, I had him cantering to the right.  Cantering in a circle is difficult for a horse in training, especially an ex-racer who is used to gradual, wide turns.  Nox had completed 2 1/2 laps and I could sense that he was feeling uncomfortable, but I wanted to push him to complete the 3rd lap before asking him to slow down.  Big mistake.  Nox felt off balance and frustrated, and so he escaped his situation by dashing out of the circle, bucking and kicking, and spun around to move to the left.

I was mad at myself, because I knew it was going to happen and I didn't take control of the situation.  I should have told him to slow down to a trot as soon as I sensed he might break.  I would have kept his attention and faith.  Instead, I had to start over, convincing him to move to the right again.  I kept the session short, so we could end on a good note, and it all ended well.  I learned a good lesson - trust my senses and stay one thought ahead of Nox.

Looking good!
Nox is shedding out his thick winter coat and looking sleek and shiny again.