Patients sometimes isn't easy to come by.

Sometimes what we expect and what is reality are two totally different things. My expectations of Spades first few days were not all that far off from what my first few days of training a domestic horse would be. But the reality is that mustangs are not domestic horses. I thought that I could do my approach and retreat routine with him a few times and like a domestic horse he would give up and come to me and at least allow me to touch him. The truth is that he in his mind is fighting for his own survival. He really likes the fact that I feed him every morning and night and that there is water in his stall but in the back of his mind I think that he is waiting on me to eat him. 

Today as I entered the round pen to start my first session, Spade immediately went to his favorite spot at the back of the pen. I worked my way though what I had done yesterday. Spade quickly allowed me back to the point that I was, at the end of yesterday's session. I came within 10 feet of him and he would get tight and prepare to run. I would freeze and wait he would relax and I would retreat. Occasionally he would bolt and I would push him around the pen a few times, he would turn back in and we would start the long process all over again. This went on for about an hour. Extending my training stick 6" from his nose was the closest I could get. I hate being that close but not being able to touch him. It feels only natural to just walk right up to him. 

A little frustrated, I came inside and gave him and me a break. After lunch and emailing another mustang trainer for options I decided to go back out and try again. Seems that I am on the right track some are just harder then others. I was blessed with a difficult one on my first attempt at a mustang...not sure why God thinks I need a difficult one but I will train what I have. For another hour we played the same game we have for two days now. So I decided to up the ante. I went to the barn and pushed some alfalfa in the tip of my training stick. That seemed to be just enough for him to be interested in smelling the stick for a second. He started to allow at least the stick in his "no touchy" space. By the end of today I was able to touch his cheek with the tip of my training stick. Hopefully he will allow me in more tomorrow.