Friday, October 12, 2012

Chance Encounter

And More Swimming

I slept crooked the other night and messed up both my neck and my back.  I often find that swimming helps and today was no exception. I swam 22 laps today, with perhaps a little less energy--only three lengths of butterfly and several of walking.

While I did feel better afterwards, I called my chiropractor and was lucky enough to get an appointment. While I waited to go there, I shopped again. This time I had a $10 coupon for JC Penney. Cool. Only trouble is, I spent more than $10 once I got there. (S-h-h-h...bought some new bras at less than half what the same styles cost at Kohls full retail price. Apparently Penney's is standing by their new image of what they call a "square deal" where items are marked down to the bottom price right from the start so there's no need for tons of sales. Amazing. I will put that into my memory bank next time I really need some undergarments.)

When I got home it was still a lovely, sunny, but quite cool day.  Since I do not routinely ride after a chiropractic adjustment, I decided it was time to take Chance out to see the fire truck "in person."  

Since the truck was well off the trail, he did not see it at once but when he did he shied dramatically, then stood there watching me as I approached it to move it out into the open.  As soon as I touched the truck, you could see him relax a little and in short order, he was quite comfortable around it, as you can see. 

 To further add to the lesson, I fed him some carrot slices each time he approached the truck on his own, and led him past it several times making sure we went back and forth from the blind corner so the truck "appeared out of nowhere."
All of this in hand work took all of about 15 minutes but it only took about two minutes for him to stop spooking at the sight of the truck.  He is actually a very level headed fellow (Unlike certain Tuckers I know.) and once he realizes something is not really dangerous, he settles pretty quickly.

I led him home, letting him stop to nibble on various leaves and grass along the way, just to make the whole experience even more pleasant.

I'm not sure I will be able to ride him out there before the truck is removed because it's the weekend and that's when the ATV's and minibikes are out, but we'll see. If it seems quiet in the morning, I may try a hack before the "wheel guys" are out of bed.

Otherwise, I'm pretty confident the problem is resolved. Chance just needs a lot of miles under his hoofs to become an "ace" trail horse--perfect for a retired gal like me.

13 comments:

  1. :-)

    good lad. these pics make it more obvious just how large this toy truck is! guess its child owner got tired driving it and parent couldn't be bothered to take it home... an expensive reject!

    it might take a while to do, but maybe you could place some random odd objects round your hacking route? would help him get used to the unexpected...albeit would require some walking on your part ....

    ReplyDelete
  2. Looks like he's a sensible guy and your plan worked. Chance is definitely not afraid of the truck anymore. He may even want to be a fireman when he grows up!

    You really are a good bargain shopper. I don't like to shop at all and try to buy it all online and have it delivered to the house when possible.

    ReplyDelete
  3. These pictures are great. Horses are so funny when they decide not to be afraid where two seconds ago they were snorting idiots. They keep life interesting. I have been putting treats on things that scare Dickie or giving a treat if he touches his nose on the scary thing. Now if he gets scared he charges up all snorty then touches it and looks to me for a treat still scared but apparently getting a treat is more important that runing from the horse eating item. These pics of Chance make me think of him. So cute!!

    ReplyDelete
  4. haha - our herd acted like this when they saw COWS the other day. like they don't see cows often!
    - The Equestrian Vagabond

    ReplyDelete
  5. Anonymous6:44 AM

    Hi thеrе, You've done a great job. I'll dеfinіtelу dіgg іt and pеrsonallу recоmmend tο my friends.
    I am сonfident they ωill be bеnеfіted from this sitе.
    my webpage: loans for bad credit

    ReplyDelete
  6. Anonymous8:16 AM

    Υou've made some decent points there. I looked on the internet for additional information about the issue and found most individuals will go along with your views on this site.
    Also see my webpage > 1 month loan

    ReplyDelete
  7. Anonymous6:07 PM

    Нi! I сoulԁ havе ѕworn Ι've been to this website before but after looking at a few of the posts I realized it's neω to mе.
    Regardlesѕ, I'm definitely happy I discovered it and I'll be book-marking it
    anԁ checκіng bacκ regulaгly!


    Mу blog ρost Engagement Rings

    ReplyDelete
  8. Anonymous10:29 AM

    Ηеya i'm for the primary time here. I came across this board and I find It truly useful & it helped me out a lot. I hope to provide something again and help others such as you aided me.

    my blog post :: Engagement Rings
    my web site: Engagement Rings

    ReplyDelete
  9. Anonymous12:51 PM

    Mу brothеr suggеsted I might likе this web site.
    He was totally right. This pοst trulу made my day.
    You can not imaginе simрly how much time Ι had spеnt fοr this іnfο!
    Τhanks!

    Feel free to visit my ωeb pagе :: instant cash
    My website: instant cash

    ReplyDelete
  10. Anonymous12:56 PM

    If you aгe going for best contents like myself, just visit thіѕ web page everу day because it gіves feature contents,
    thanks

    my site; lose weight
    Also see my page: lose weight

    ReplyDelete
  11. Anonymous3:16 AM

    hello there and thank you for your infoгmation – Ӏ've certainly picked up anything new from right here. I did however expertise several technical points using this website, as I experienced to reload the site many times previous to I could get it to load correctly. I had been wondering if your web host is OK? Not that I'm complaіning, but slow loading
    instances times wіll often affeсt your placеment in googlе and cаn damage yоur high-qualitу score if ads
    anԁ marketing with Adworԁs. Αnywаy I'm adding this RSS to my e-mail and could look out for a lot more of your respective interesting content. Ensure that you update this again very soon.

    my weblog; Same Day Payday Loans

    ReplyDelete
  12. Anonymous8:24 PM

    For hotteѕt іnfогmation yоu have tο pay a quick ѵisіt the web and on
    world-wide-web Ӏ fοund thiѕ sіte as a fіnеst web
    pagе for most recеnt upԁates.

    Fеel free to surf to my web site; Payday Loans

    ReplyDelete
  13. Anonymous1:46 PM

    Τhank you for the goоd ωriteup.
    It in fact was a amusement acсount it. Lоok advanсed to far
    aԁded agreеable fгom you! By the way, hοw can wе сοmmunicate?


    My blog poѕt: payday loans

    ReplyDelete