Chat
08-30-2018, 07:51 AM
Sounds like Koby is doing well. It sounds like he knows what all the commands mean but is sometimes testy about obeying them. I think it would be fine to start him in a bit now. It will give you more control and it will make Koby think twice before leaning into the pressure and charging off. It's not like he's a clueless newbie at this any more--he knows what rein pressure means.
I think introducing cones is a great idea. There are so many things you can do with markers. You can steer around them, between them, weave, circle, and trot or walk between this or that, etc. It will give you something interesting to do so you and Koby don't get bored in your familiar setting. Koby is more likely to act up if he's bored, and these exercises will help keep his mind and body occupied. They'll also help you with precision and timing of your aids, and they'll help Koby learn to respond promptly and accurately. Just make sure to start simple and work up to harder maneuvers so Koby doesn't get discouraged or confused.
Understanding cart width is something that comes with time, but you'll find that some goats just plain don't care about bashing the cart into things so it's good to be proactive and steer well clear of potential obstacles before you get near enough to crash. On the other hand, it can sometimes be helpful for your goat to learn by experience (provided it's safe enough to do so). Unless you think he'll damage your cart, let him scrape it into a fence or run the wheel against a tree. Then let him stand there and figure out what went wrong. If he's run the cart up against a tree, he'll probably have to back up a little before he can move forward, and this may be a great learning experience. I've let my goats back our carts into ditches and run over curbs and rocks when I thought it was safe because it was a good way to show them that they made the wrong choice without me having to do anything except help them figure out how to fix it. Sometimes that means having to get out of the cart and lead them, which leads me to...
Yes, if you have to get out of the cart to make Koby move on, make him work! Keep the whip in your outside hand and give him a smart whack on the hind legs as you get him moving. Let him know that standing there acting dumb isn't going to convince you to end the lesson. He should not look forward to any time when you have to get out of the cart to correct him.
One of the hardest things to do is to stop when all is going well. Sometimes the best way to teach an animal is to make sure the best lessons are also the shortest. Always end on a high note. If the whole lesson is a high note, cut it short so Koby remembers it for next time. It sounds like you guys are making great progress. Good work!
I think introducing cones is a great idea. There are so many things you can do with markers. You can steer around them, between them, weave, circle, and trot or walk between this or that, etc. It will give you something interesting to do so you and Koby don't get bored in your familiar setting. Koby is more likely to act up if he's bored, and these exercises will help keep his mind and body occupied. They'll also help you with precision and timing of your aids, and they'll help Koby learn to respond promptly and accurately. Just make sure to start simple and work up to harder maneuvers so Koby doesn't get discouraged or confused.
Understanding cart width is something that comes with time, but you'll find that some goats just plain don't care about bashing the cart into things so it's good to be proactive and steer well clear of potential obstacles before you get near enough to crash. On the other hand, it can sometimes be helpful for your goat to learn by experience (provided it's safe enough to do so). Unless you think he'll damage your cart, let him scrape it into a fence or run the wheel against a tree. Then let him stand there and figure out what went wrong. If he's run the cart up against a tree, he'll probably have to back up a little before he can move forward, and this may be a great learning experience. I've let my goats back our carts into ditches and run over curbs and rocks when I thought it was safe because it was a good way to show them that they made the wrong choice without me having to do anything except help them figure out how to fix it. Sometimes that means having to get out of the cart and lead them, which leads me to...
Yes, if you have to get out of the cart to make Koby move on, make him work! Keep the whip in your outside hand and give him a smart whack on the hind legs as you get him moving. Let him know that standing there acting dumb isn't going to convince you to end the lesson. He should not look forward to any time when you have to get out of the cart to correct him.
One of the hardest things to do is to stop when all is going well. Sometimes the best way to teach an animal is to make sure the best lessons are also the shortest. Always end on a high note. If the whole lesson is a high note, cut it short so Koby remembers it for next time. It sounds like you guys are making great progress. Good work!