The new year is starting off on the right "foot"! I want Topaz to learn to rest her foot on the jack for me to file it. I have been lifting her foot to clean and before I put it down I stretch it forward. She tends to paw & pull away as this is something new. A few days ago I stretched out her front foot & she let me hold it there without pulling or pawing so when I let it down I told her she was wonderful!! Well, she got so excited she nickered at me and looked for a treat. I went to the other front foot and told her she wasn't done. She then lifted her foot and stretched it forward for me. I curled it back as if to clean it so she would learn to put it forward when I asked not in anticipation of what I want. She is doing her best to learn what it is I want of her. She did get a cookie for a job well done! I am brushing her some after she gets a treat so she knows I am not a vending machine. She gets one treat and cannot be aggressive trying for another. I am giving her more carrots but cookies are still her favorite by far. Although peppermint treats are a close second.
The next day I worked her she nickered at me when I said "lessons" were over & I took her halter off. I am enjoying her soft "talking" to me when we work together. This is a new phenomenon and I hope it continues. It's so soft only I can hear her and it makes our time together even more special.
