Met another interesting horse this week on my saddle fitting journey. The owner invited me in to the horses stable but the horse was a little wary of me being there, I think probably he thought I was a vet, particularly as I was carrying a flexi curve in my hand.
A few years ago I may have asked for a headcollar to be put on the horse or been a bit annoyed with the horses 'bad manners' in turning his bottom on me. My time with Peter Laidely and undertaking some Epona training has made me view the world very differently now. I was a stranger and I had come in to O's enclosed space uninvited, the owner had invited me in but it was O's space and I had been a rude visitor and not paid attention to the proper etiquette in this matter.
His owner explained that he could be shy around people that he didn't know. I don't feel the horse was being objectionable, he was simply telling me that he had not invited me in to his space and who was I to barge in and expect him to stand still when I hadn't introduced myself and hadn't asked his permission to template him. I am sure customers think I am completely barmy when I verbally introduce myself to their horse and have a conversation with them.
Anyway when I inadvertantly forget my manners I channel my inner Harry Potter meeting a Hippogriff for the first time. JK Rowling writes:
Now, firs' thing yeh gotta know abou' hippogriffs is, they're proud. Easily offended, hippogriffs are. Don't never insult one, 'cause it might be the last thing yeh do. Yeh always wait fer the hippogriff ter make the firs' move. It's polite, see? Yeh walk towards him, and yeh bow, an' yeh wait. If he bows back, yeh're allowed to touch him. If he doesn' bow, then get away from him sharpish, 'cause those talons hurt. —Rubeus Hagrid teaches his first class about hippogriffs.
So, I stayed in the middle of the stable, crouched down and said "hello O, I have come to fit you with a new saddle" and he walked over to me, put his head down to my hand holding the flexi curve and gave me a little nuzzle, then I slowly stood up and gave him a scratch and said "thank you" and proceeded to template him with him loose in the stable with no problems at all.
A few years ago I may have asked for a headcollar to be put on the horse or been a bit annoyed with the horses 'bad manners' in turning his bottom on me. My time with Peter Laidely and undertaking some Epona training has made me view the world very differently now. I was a stranger and I had come in to O's enclosed space uninvited, the owner had invited me in but it was O's space and I had been a rude visitor and not paid attention to the proper etiquette in this matter.
His owner explained that he could be shy around people that he didn't know. I don't feel the horse was being objectionable, he was simply telling me that he had not invited me in to his space and who was I to barge in and expect him to stand still when I hadn't introduced myself and hadn't asked his permission to template him. I am sure customers think I am completely barmy when I verbally introduce myself to their horse and have a conversation with them.
Anyway when I inadvertantly forget my manners I channel my inner Harry Potter meeting a Hippogriff for the first time. JK Rowling writes:
Now, firs' thing yeh gotta know abou' hippogriffs is, they're proud. Easily offended, hippogriffs are. Don't never insult one, 'cause it might be the last thing yeh do. Yeh always wait fer the hippogriff ter make the firs' move. It's polite, see? Yeh walk towards him, and yeh bow, an' yeh wait. If he bows back, yeh're allowed to touch him. If he doesn' bow, then get away from him sharpish, 'cause those talons hurt. —Rubeus Hagrid teaches his first class about hippogriffs.
So, I stayed in the middle of the stable, crouched down and said "hello O, I have come to fit you with a new saddle" and he walked over to me, put his head down to my hand holding the flexi curve and gave me a little nuzzle, then I slowly stood up and gave him a scratch and said "thank you" and proceeded to template him with him loose in the stable with no problems at all.
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