A lot of people say 'animals can read our emotions'. How do dogs know when someone is hurt? How do cats learn to stay by your side when you fall? How do dolphins know to save people? We hear theses stories often, of an animal knowing what's wrong.
My thoughts and body language was the truth about our relationship. I had gotten into the pattern of Annabelle being crazy at feed time, being away from the herd, liberty.... Today when I put Gold outside Annabelle did her usual pacing and I stopped thinking about the negative impacts and thought of the million things I could do when it escalated. The second I did she relaxed and came to me. We warmed up online and a couple mins later we went to liberty. I always like to start with stick to me. By using my emotions and energy in a positive way we had a calm walk to canter transition. Without any head flaring or run offs. In my mind I pictured a dance and it was clear she wanted to dance with me.
When I took the 'liberty' out of liberty our session was 100% improved. I didn't worry about her running away or not staying connected. It was like a light being plugged in, once the connection happened it glowed.
I even got her to jump a barrel next to the wall from me 22ft away. The best part about it wasn't that she went over it. It was how she went over it, she knew what I was asking, she knew she was supposed to go over the barrel. Isn't that crazy? My connection with her was strong enough that by my thoughts, feelings and body language she understood that I wanted her to go over the barrel.
http://youtu.be/rHNzeTxoSwY
For the first time, I felt that she really wanted to connect with me.
