Here’s an e-mail I got yesterday. It’s obviously spam, but it gave me a good laugh. Unfortunately, I’m all out of Baby Horse (Mustangs) right now, so Chris is out of luck. We do have a lot of great rescue horses who are looking for homes, but I don’t think most scammers are actually interested in buying horses.
SUBJECT:
Order!
MESSAGE:
Hello,
My name is Chris Gardner, and i would like to Order some of your Baby Horse (Mustang) also i will like to know the types you have in stock……so kindly get back to me with the price and also wants to know the form of payment that you accept and i would proceed with payment, Moreover this is for a Pick up so kindly get back to me with the price on the Baby Horse (Mustang) Only and we would proceed from there, Thank you and Hope to hear back from you.
Regards
Chris Gardner
In other news, today was a good day with the horses, I’ll post a longer update over the weekend. I sat on Connor, the palomino we rescued about a month ago. The jury is still out regarding how much previous training he has had. He is willing to tolerate a lot of things that we ask, but he drags his feet and says “I’d rather not.” He needs to review of a lot of the basics, so that he can learn to respond softly and willingly. I think he has probably always been told to do things, never asked. However, with some more ground work and miles this spring, he should develop into a really nice riding horse.
I also rode Tex for about half an hour. He did great! We used five cones in the round pen to work in a star pattern for ground driving and then riding. He really likes riding from point to point. I think that having a physical goal of where he’s going really helps give him a sense of purpose.
LOL That email is dumb. I don’t know why spammers even bother.
I can’t wait to hear the update on Connor.
It sounds like Tex is really figuring things out. Keep up the great work!
I would suppose that spammer’s bad behavior is reinforced on a highly variable intermittent schedule of reinforcement….which leads to stable, high rates of behavior. I wish they’d leave me out of it, though. They sure aren’t going to get any of my money!
Hi Mary – your words regarding Connor (who btw looks gorgeous): He needs to review of a lot of the basics, so that he can learn to respond softly and willingly. I think he has probably always been told to do things, never asked. However, with some more ground work and miles this spring, he should develop into a really nice riding horse.
OMGoodness….this really struck a cord with me….I’m so looking forward to reading about this process, please don’t scrimp on the words used to describe each and every step, which I know you don’t anyway, because I’ve been able to follow well in the past. Do you know how many times I’ve been told by riding instructors, ‘he’s reluctant’, ‘he’s dragging his feet,’ more impulsion needed, use more leg’ etc.etc.
Can’t wait to read about it 🙂
Gayle
Thanks for commenting, Gayle.
I’m working on a couple of posts about Connor for next week, I hope you’ll find them useful. I’m also going to forward you an article that I think you will enjoy.
Mary
At least he offered to pick up the Baby Horse (Mustang) so you wouldn’t have to worry about shipping!
LOL!
Although, if I had a few Baby Horse (Mustang), I’m pretty sure they wouldn’t be for sale!
Mary
Thank you soooo much on the suggestions for feeding treats!! Chrome definitely views my hand as a cue so I’m going to do like you did with Tex a “desensitize” him to my hand again. That way he will have to wait to hear the click to know if there is a treat in my hand or not. That is such a fantastic idea. I can’t tell if his is frustration or excitement. He didn’t do it the first few days I was working on it so I’m guessing it’s a patience thing or boredom thing, because he’s already bored with what he knows. 🙂
I’ll definitely use your suggestions and keep working on it. I’m also following Kate’s blog and I’ve been saving the softening posts she’s doing. I just haven’t had time to read them. Since you think it will help I’ll go back to them and read them tonight if I have time. 🙂 He needs to learn some patience. I probably need to work on tying too, so that he learns to be patient and wait. Thanks again for reading what we’ve been working on and giving me suggestions. 🙂
I think feeding him with the opposite hand will help too. I need to write that down so I don’t forget.
Thanks for commenting on feeding Chrome out of the barrel. I have it tied to the support post in the barn (you couldn’t see it because his head is in the way) so he can’t knock it over. I think the only thing I’ll have to worry about is if he decides to poop in it lol. 🙂 He rarely spends time in there when he isn’t eating though. 🙂