What Now?

You think you are making progress, and then everything falls apart and you're back where you started.  I don't mean to be negative about it, I just feel like I'm being realistic and this is what happened.

I couldn't get Cal to catch me today.  He had no interest in coming over, so I played the game where I retreat to zone 5, then flick him if he ignores me.  With Cal, I start walking around, and he yields his hindquarters away and just stares at me.  Is he RB or LB?  Does he understand what I want, or is he purposely ignoring me?  Or is he unconfident and untrusting which is why he doesn't approach?  Hmmm...

Well, eventually he did come over, and I haltered up.  I should have played in the pasture, but it's frozen and the horses hate walking on it, so I went to the arena.  I thought I played with thresholds, but Cal wasn't connected or confident and, as one might expect, it only got worse.  It took me a right-brain horse, and an instant of frustration before I allowed myself to admit this wasn't working.  Thankfully, I recognized the frustration and took Cal and retreated back to the herd.

I was expecting today to be a challenge.  I knew I pushed things a little hard yesterday.  Perhaps, knowing that, I should have just spent some undemanding time with him.  I'm not sure.

I just wish I knew what I'm supposed to be doing.