Dan

Dan has made a really big step in his progress today.  He's been becoming noticeably more relaxed around people in the yard, and he's pretty laid back with all our normal yard routine (sweeping, wheelbarrowing etc).  It's always been possible to do pretty much anything you want with Dan once he is confined in a stable or pen, but in open areas, it's always been much more tricky.  Often you'd need the help of another person in order to catch him in an open space or field entrance.

Today, Dan let me approach him and stroke him in the yard!  He had a carrot to reward him for his efforts and bravery, and with careful handling he also let me headcollar him out in the open yard.

Dan is one of those ponies that you have to prove to everyday that we are not going to hurt or kill him.  I led him into a stable to that I could brush him.  I had a different brush on this occasion, and you could see him thinking, this is it...this is the scary piece of equipment that's going to hurt me.  Using our special techniques, he quickly realised that it was just a brush for his mane, and brushing is something he is very comfortable with.  Once into the rhythm of the brushing, he relaxed and was fine again, and the experience was followed by Dan licking and chewing, and yawning.

As long as we keep his experiences as positive as possible, he should continue to progress...

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