Not a bad boy, just no treats!

I finally called Dawna, another Tennessee Walker owner and trainer, and she agreed to come by today to evaluate Red. Much to my relief, she says he’s not a bad boy. He just needs to be taught who’s boss. She suggested that I stop by her place sometime and work with her horses a bit just so I can practice with a well-behaved animal before dealing with one that’s not. I am so happy to have someone to share my trouble with.

Dawna says what might be causing the biting problem is the treats we've been giving the horses. They are looking for food in our pockets and in our hands. It's better NOT to use treats as rewards. Petting and words of encouragement are better tools to use.

I’m going to need to give the next worm medication soon and I don’t know where to start. Dawna is going to share her schedule with me. She gives her horses their doses mixed in with applesauce. That sounds much easier than trying to get a syringe down their throats. I think I’ll give it a try.

The wood fencing is progressing, though much slower that we'd like. Going through gravel is not fun. We found that adding water to the hole helps the auger grab better. The auger tends to get out of your hands when you hit a dense spot and you can go for a spin if you're not careful.