It’s another daylong seminar with clicker-training expert Alex Kurland, and Gus is not happy waiting his turn. He’s stuck in his stall, right around the corner from the arena where others are having fun without him. And he's obsessing about his durance vile.
Along with hay, we’ve given him a treat-dispensing toy similar to a Bustercube for dogs. His is actually a keg-style beverage cooler from which the spigot has been removed; we fill it with hay-stretcher pellets, and he uses his nose to roll it around, making the treats fall out sporadically from the small hole where the spigot was. He rolls it fast, backandforth-backandforth-backandforth, and eats a few treats, but then he abandons it, the better to scold us by blasting his bagpipes in a tantrum of braying. Listen here:
After a few of these concerts, we decide to work with him next. He gladly shoves his face into the halter and is pleased to see the little audience waiting for him. He only gets a brief session of lead-line walking and mat-standing, with me and then with Alex, but it’s enough. As I take him out to his paddock, I apologize to him for having no time to allow for grazing, and he only tries a few evasive maneuvers before succumbing and walking into his outdoor jailyard.
The next day, I return to give him a lot more arena fun and plenty of grazing time.
After a few of these concerts, we decide to work with him next. He gladly shoves his face into the halter and is pleased to see the little audience waiting for him. He only gets a brief session of lead-line walking and mat-standing, with me and then with Alex, but it’s enough. As I take him out to his paddock, I apologize to him for having no time to allow for grazing, and he only tries a few evasive maneuvers before succumbing and walking into his outdoor jailyard.
The next day, I return to give him a lot more arena fun and plenty of grazing time.
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