Relax cue

Galim is Baasha's distant cousin (egyptian) who I was lucky enough to find here in Germany and I am leasing him until Baasha arrives. Then Baasha will move in with his cousin and they can compare stories about their wildly different youths, one american, one european. I can't wait for this day!

I rarely get the chance to ride Galim alone, because his main job in life is to accelerate a young superstar arab, Sharif, in his endurance training rides. In other words, Galim is an "motivating partner" used to put miles and miles on Sharif, so Sharif can compete in international endurance competitions. Galim is 19, Sharif is 9.

Thankfully, Galim is built - he is an arab with amazing substance, he makes my Baasha look *delicate* in comparison.

As I brushed him, he grimaced. I immediately checked his back for soreness. Nothing. He's just body sore from a 7 hour ride 2 days before, poor dear. "When I take you out, Galim, it's easy. Just a walk in the park." I promised.

As I led him down the road I felt his tension mounting. His friends called from the field, "Don't go!" and he replied, "Ok!" and I grabbed his sidepull and said "No talking!" *gasp* - he's never seen me act so mean! I have been reading about how separation anxiety is mostly a loss of trust in your leadership, and I intended to be a very good leader for him, as he has not been out alone since spring, and before that, years? I took him further and when I went to tighten the girth, I noticed his attention was nowhere near me; he was looking back toward the barn.

I did an "untracking" session with him, where he has to back, turn, stop, back, turn, etc etc until he starts to notice me, and eventually even think about me. I felt his neck, and it was rock hard with tension. Eventually he looked at me, and we walked on.

He was so uptight, I thought I should ask him to drop his head. Doesn't every horse know this? Apparently not. I put one hand on his poll, the other on the bridge of his nose, and gave him a few pulsing signals. He acted as a baby horse would act - he threw his head up high and rolled his eyes. Good grief! OK, first lesson in head lowering! I just rocked his head back and forth, side to side, and the moment the crazed look left his eyes and I felt his muscles begin to loosen, I let him go and resumed our walk.

Later I asked him again, hand on poll, a light signal, and when he strained up and fought, I began rocking his head. As soon as he stopped fighting and dropped it a millimeter, I let him go and we walked further. I started to doubt myself. Did he, in fact, drop his head at all? Was I just imagining it? Will I be able to do this with him?

Third try: not so much fighting, but there was a significant drop in his head. Whew.

I got on him, and we rode for an hour at a gentle walk. I'm scouting for gentle trails for my baby when he arrives. Baasha's barefoot and arthritic, afterall.

After an hour I got off and put my hand on Galim's poll. He dropped his nose to his knees. I was so surprised! But then, just like Baasha when I taught him, he threw his head right up again, where he wants it. I said "OK now we have to build it so that you'll keep it down as long as I like!" but that was easy.

Galim is so easy, I get off and walk a lot cuz I worry about his legs, and he follows me respectfully. I'm going to be very strict when Baasha arrives, he's never to pull ahead and try to lead me. A horse should follow his leader on a loose line (but where I can see him out of the corner of my eye).

Next week a new run-in shed arrives for Baasha, and I get to help put it up. Soon he'll be here, I can't believe it!