One of the many activities that the Clarkson Horseman's Association (CHA) does is several parades each year, including the Brockport Mardi Gras, Rochester Lilac Festival, and some town fireman's parades. To participate, horse and rider must qualify in indoor and outdoor practices. Feb 22nd was the first indoor practice. It ended up being a special day. Winnie loaded on the trailer without hesitation. On the way to Church Hills Stables, we stopped to get coffee to go. The clerk working the counter asked if he could give the horse an apple, so he bought some and went out to take pictures to share with his daughter. Within moments several people in the parking lot came over to see the friendly horse sticking her head out the traler door to get apples and give some love.
The drill for practice is to basically do everything you're not supposed to around a horse. Make noise, chaos, throw things, movement, run up on them like a crowd or child might, run chain saws you name it. After a few minutes I was ready to tell Justine to get down we're going home. My little girl that does not like chaos and is easily nervous said, "please not yet daddy, I think we can do this I just need to stay calm so Winnie doesn't think she has to protect me. She's not scared, she's trying to figure out what I'm nervous about". Ok, so I brought our horse but no clue who this kid is. Justine did some relaxation techniques she learned on Winnie and Winnie went to work on Justine. This vid is their first run. You can see both are calm. Winnie doesn't pay attention to the streamers or noise (sorry I missed the ball they rolled at her feet). Her ears are not pointed and forward as if scared, but relaxed and back toward Justine paying attention to her for ques. Most of the other horses, unfortunately not the same story, a few were all over the place as Winnie went to sleep. In the background you see blue tarps on the ground to get them to walk on. Many horses won't step on what they are unsure of. Winnie will walk on it but think jumping them or dragging them around is much more fun. Then two people pick up the tarp and make a tunnel of sorts with the crinkle sound go over the horses head and rider is supposed to send them through. Winnie became alert and unsure, but a gentle pat on the neck and assuring voice from Justine and Win's ears softened and she walked through without complaint, then decided that backing through and side pass would be fun too. Everyone laughed, Winnie was turning the scary stuff into fun. The words of the coordinator, "might as well load her back up and take her home, it don't get any better than that".
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