After realizing that yesterdays work was still there, time to start long lining. I like long lining horses because i can start using the outside and inside rein differently, just like i would under saddle. normal lunging is very difficult to imitate what is said under saddle. There were the usual first time problems with the long lining, had to work on desensitizing Magic to when I need to throw the line back into place. This of course is scary for a horse to have this long line flying around there body. Usually when something is being flung around them that means that they need to do something, so i had to explain to her that it really meant nothing and that she should carry on with what we are working on. It actually didn't take very long to get her over this fear, showing me that Magic is willing to believe what i tell her. i said "dont be afraid of this line" and she agreed that she could do that. i felt like i was making a good connection with magic at this point, so when i was done i decided to test that connection. i unclipped magic from the long line and walked off and asked her under her own free will to go with me, and she followed me like a big puppy!!! has to be one of my favorite training moments, just to see that trust and willingness to work together.
after making great progress on the long line, i figured it would be a good time to bring Maggie into the arena and get her started with Magic. Maggie did great, handled the long lines like she had been doing it for years. But it was really interesting to watch Magic and Maggie's interaction. Magic definitely loves that little girl and looked rather pleased to be showing Maggie what she can do. It's very early in the training process, but they are starting the conversation.
After the ride i showed Maggie a better way to lead Magic. When you think the horse is running the show and having an "alpha" mare attitude, one of the fastest and easiest ways to become the leader is by playing "follow the leader". Simple rules: magic must walk behind Maggie at all times, on a loose lead, and must stop or turn whenever maggie chooses so. Magic should never get next to or ahead of Maggie, thats when you know that Magic is challenging Maggie's authority. By maggie saying "no" you stay behind me, she is placing herself as the herd leader in this herd of two.
The "alpha" mare syndrome is a HUGE myth in the horse world. Here is the scenario: you have a herd of two, maggie and magic, someone has to be the leader. Maggie doesn't know how to be the leader (she is young and hasn't been taught how, not her fault) so magic stands up to the job. Unfortunately in this situation, the one with the smaller brain that only operates off of primal instincts is now calling the shots, and because Magic is a horse and can only communicate in horse language she uses defense mechanisms to communicate and nows she is portrayed to look like an "alpha" mare. Solution: Maggie becomes the leader and alleviates all of the extra stress in Magic's world. This will open up a whole new realm for this herd of two. Soon Magic wont have to stress about what defense mechanisms she is going to need to use when Maggie takes her out of the field. Soon it will become a stress free environment, because Magic will know to look Maggie for instruction and all she has to do is just do what maggie says. horses really do like simplicity, remember there brains aren't very big.
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