Susie Gillott:
Spirit is a 2 1/2 year old Anglo-Arab mare. I have owned here since she
was born, and she has always had a definite 'personality'.
I started showing Spirit lightly with some success , but as time went by
it got harder and harder to get her in the lorry even though she had
never had a bad experience
Over the course of the last showing season the loading times got longer
and longer, until at the anglo-arab national championships she decided
enough was enough... It had taken an hour to get her in to go there, and
when it came time to go home the answer was a definite NO! which
wouldn't have been the end of the world except that was at Keysoe in
Bedford and we live in Sheffield! Eventually after nearly 4 hours, and
lots of tears I got her in and swore NEVER AGAIN!
I found the website and emailed Nikki. Max came out the following month.
Max checked Spirit over physically and then took her in the menage to
assess her. It became evident she was very intelligent and quick to
learn with a bit of attitude thrown in for good measure.
Max took her out to the lorry and she was in within 25 minutes - of her
own accord- with no whips/lunge lines/shouting/crying (except for joy!)
I was astounded. Max went through the thought process of both himself
and her, so I could fully understand why everything happened as it did.
We had our homework of loading, and she has NEVER refused to go on the
lorry since !
Strangely ( or not !) since Max came and re-drew the ground rules,
Spirit has begun to think before reacting, she is calmer in herself and
doesn't panic at the slightest thing like she used to before Max's
visit.
Cathy Shaw:
I would consider Max's visit should be a lesson in EVERY youngsters
training, as it has made her a different horse to the one she was before
altogether. (I just wish we'd done it earlier !!)
Yesterday went very well and it was an inspiration to watch Max work
with Lily and to see my very over-confident youngster having to think
carefully about what was happening to her and how she ought to respond.
I am now armed with lots of excellent ideas for her future education and
have a much better idea of where we should both be heading.
Please thank Max for me. I do not think I have ever met someone so good
at working a horse while educating it's owner....who says men can't
multi-task? |
