By Kendra
Yesterday I began with Nuri loose in the arena, and Bali (a four year old pony mare owned by combined driver Shelly Temple) on a 15′ line. First I lead Bali while I moved Nuri away from us with a stick and string. I knew he understands and yields well to this type of pressure, and he did, calmly moving off without showing any stallion behavior. After he moved away, I would leave him alone and work with Bali (my goal with her was to practice canter transitions interspersed with rest while I directed pressure towards another horse). If Nuri tried to creep closer I would just move him off again.
Once he could stand still calmly while Bali worked, I changed the exercise slightly. Now, when I asked him to move I would put enough pressure on him to get a canter transition (that boy has a gorgeous canter!!) and then ask for a hindquarter disengagement and invite him in. Keeping Bali behind me, I would go to Nuri and pet him and allow him to relax near Bali. Again he showed no inappropriate stallion behavior, only occasionally curiosity.
This part was important because I didn’t want him to learn that he was going to be run off from another horse or from a person every time. I just wanted to teach him that there are is a condition for being close to mares. And the condition is good manners!
After that, he was able to ground tie near her while we practiced clipping, I could lead them both together, we worked on loading him into the trailer while I held her & she practiced patience. Finally, I let them graze side by side. Nuri did not nicker at her or drop during this whole two and a half hour session.