Danny the Miniature Horse - 09 March 2024

Drive # 235 - Taylor River Reserve - 14km
Not much footage today, to busy trying to hold off charging dogs and dealing with people that wanted photos and pats of Danny.
We had a bad instance at our wooden bridge, for some reason today he flat out refused to cross it ... did my head in ... I have to admit I lost my cool and he completely shut down, wouldn't take any direction at all no matter what I did. I am quite happy to help him through stuff but when he completely ignores me, refuses to allow me to direct him and just shuts down I honestly don't know how to deal. It's one of those things that completely infuriates me because I am concerned one day, I will need him to yield for safety sake, not just for desire to move and what if he shuts down, it could cost us both more than we are willing to pay.
Your subscription is genuinely appreciated
Recorded in 1080p because that is all that You Tube and IMovie will allow
Filmed on Go Pro Hero 5
Marlborough, New Zealand

[@noplacelikehomecrochet5335]

Brings back so many great childhood memories ❤

[@DeeinNZ]

Awww that is so lovely to hear. I am glad you enjoyed it. Must have been a lovely childhood.

[@noplacelikehomecrochet5335]

@@DeeinNZ yes it was

[@LittleBitofHopeToo2518]

When mine acts like a complete bonehead, I try to remember the mantra "make the good things easy, and the bad things hard". So if I get a refusal, I just start working on something else, even if it is driving in circles. Make them MOVE but not in a way that they might enjoy. Then let them rest a bit by what you want, and if for instance he accepted the bridge, let him rest on it (he should be huffing a bit by then) and even give him a treat when he crosses. Then immediately cross back and if he balks he goes right back to work on something hard but not the bridge. They usually get the idea that the thing you want is the easiest (and hence the best) thing to do, and they don't usually shut down in the process. It works for me anyway, so it's just a suggestion. I've had it work with spookers too. Something isn't quite as scary if they get to catch their breath by it and rest.

[@DeeinNZ]

Hi and thank you for your input. I did do all of that (except the treat, I had none) I think I figured out what happened. A few weeks ago on another drive, he slipped going over an arch bridge, I think it's thrown him because he'd been over that particular bridge a heap of times with no issue but because it's another arch bridge, I think he was worried he was going to slip again so considering that, I think I might need to lead him over arch bridges for awhile till he gets his confidence back.

[@LittleBitofHopeToo2518]

@@DeeinNZ Yes, that would do it. Leading is a good idea too. Mine slipped on some paint, and it took her a couple of weeks to be comfortable again. She got mad though. She wants to stomp it every time we go over painted markings on the road. They are such interesting creatures.

[@cheekypon]

I enjoy your videos so much. I stumbled across your older videos a few weeks back and it’s so lovely to see how far you two have come. How often do you drive Danny?

[@DeeinNZ]

Thank you so much for your lovely comments. We got out as often as weather and my health allow, sadly I have health challenges meaning I don't get to do it as much as I'd like but I aim for 3 times a week, sometimes we hit the target, sometimes it's a couple of weeks because we go out. I have numbered every single drive in the video description and dated every one in the title which tells you how many we have done in total and generally how often because I did think that would indeed be a question. I first started putting them up because I could find very little about harness training a mini specifically and then I decided it was a good thing to share because he can be such a challenging pony and I know there were times I felt like a failure so I hoped there would be others out there who might find inspiration to keep going when things aren't going according to plan in whatever their passion is, then I thought it would be neat to document our progress and finally I thought it might be nice for my friends who don't live near me and other people to see some of my local scenery and the places we go so I am very happy to hear you are enjoying our videos and I value your comments, thank you.

[@DeeinNZ]

Oh and finally, I thought if I could get enough subscribers, maybe it could help contribute to a some treats for Danny because my budget is always so stretched with the fuel required to get us to places.