In an Ice Storm in Oklahoma . . .

Whenever you and your horse face a dangerous or unusual situation, you realize how important it is for your horse to lead super respectfully.  In a crazy ice storm trying to get loaded up and out of Oklahoma, I was very thankful my horse respected and trusted me. We walked out of the barn onto a sheer sheet of ice, and to add to the difficulty of handling him on this slippery surface, he had slick slider horseshoes on his back feet.  I asked him to walk as slow as he could, and he listened each time I said, “OK. You’ve got to slow up and go with me.” When we got to the trailer, I asked him to stand still. I needed time to put down shavings so he wouldn’t lose his footing as he jumped up into the trailer. He did exactly what I told him to do, and he made it into the trailer without a misstep.  So when you ask why I’m so “picky” about teaching my horse to lead well, this is why. On that morning in Oklahoma, my horse didn’t take one single step except for what I asked him to take, and it saved him from hurting himself.