Echo becomes the Leading Man.

During our leading lesson something must have clicked in Echo's little horse brain. Maybe it was that he finally understands what his job is. All along I think he was worried he was dinner. He also doesn't like to scare himself and always seems to learn from his mistakes. He was letting his breath out in big sighs and really relaxing.

Wildairo, who came in from the pasture to watch the whole thing, called him a Dope on a rope!


During Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays lessons he was following behind me like a little pack pony. We were working in the little pen where he feels safe. He was so responsive that I was glowing and thinking I've never handled a horse like him. Then we tried leading in the big corral and he was a real sweetie, following behind as we walked around and around. This was because we were training by moonlight and he's much calmer at night. I think it's because he is not so horrified of seeing a human right next to him. In the daylight he's a bit different.

Yesterday we had out first daylight training in the big corral since he acted stupid.


After awhile he decided he wasn't so keen about following me about and planted his feet. I have to keep unbalancing him to get a few more strides out of him. I'll have to make things more interesting for him.

He would rather stand there and get kisses.



Brad showed up to feed him and he stood still without acting silly. The bald spot on the side of Echo's face is where he sticks his head under the fence to eat spilled hay.


Echo's not tied. I just put the rope through the fence.


Notice he doesn't bite the apple. I've trained him not to bite into anything I'm holding. I break bits of carrot for him and give him chunks of apple that I bite off.



We are working on standing still when I approach him. He starts to take off and I have to tempt him with a apple. Soon as he faces me and my fingers touch his face he considers himself caught now. This is HUGE for Echo.