Kasino was handling things well inside his stall.  But weaning can be treacherous!  And Parlay was just at the top of the hill.  Any turnout would put them within easy eye sight of each other with only wire fence between.  "Bad Idea," I thought.

Although there are 24 hours in the day and I can't spend them all with Kasino, I try to entertain him what little I can.  Being trapped in a stall must suck, especially for a healthy colt!  I brush and pet on him and remind him how much he's loved even though his other mommy is gone and tell him how pretty and brave he is.  And we also do some more productive stuff .

I practice putting the halter on and off his head, making sure every time to keep his head at my waist or lower while I do it.  I also started pushing him around in the stall...not LITERALLY, almost like I am longeing him.  With the lead on his halter, I encourage him to walk perpendicular to me.  When he is going forward nicely, I ask him to stop by wiggling the rope (remember that big fat snap that makes his halter wiggle?).  I can pull him toward me to reverse his direction.  I can flip the rope over his poll and down around his hindquarters to initiate a reverse to the outside.

After only a couple of lessons, he is going around both ways and stopping.  He comes to me or stays out there (out there is only 4 feet away).  Best of all, there is plenty of lip licking and an inquisitive, interested look on his face that tells me he IS learning and he IS NOT bored.

I love that look

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Kasino Kasanova

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