Positive experience

I've been thinking about Gally and his stopping on Sunday. I think sometimes you need to look at what type of horse you are riding.

Gally, boss of the herd, popular with the girls. I mean, Bess stands at the fence batting her eyelids when he's at the hitching rail, and even Crownie comes into season for him. Not the agressive type though. Quiet achiever. Kind of wears his opponents down slowly in order to get to the top. I had a manager like that once.

So when we're on our first hike out together, and he sees a potentially dangerous situation (you have to keep in mind that he can hear and/or smell the wallabies, the deer hunters and their dogs in the bush), he says "Now, let's just stop right here and check that it's all safe". He takes the "protective" stance. Plays the father figure. Works within his level of comfort, and doesn't get too excited by the spur of the moment. Or by the spur for that matter.

It's a case of finding the best way to work with that type of character, and building trust through positive experiences.

Our Sunday experience was a positive one. We stayed together and didn't get eaten.