Bad Habits

I forgot how easy it is to teach your horse bad habits. Sigh.

After Chrome finishes eating I've been taking him back to his pen and unbuckling his halter. Then I would hold one side of the halter up and rub his forehead. When he lowered his head (this eventually makes bridling easier) I would let the halter drop smoothly off his face as his reward. Today he and I were both impatient (I was cold/he wanted hay) and I noticed that instead of lowering his head he was actually rooting his nose out and down. It was a downward motion so without thinking I let the halter slip off. Oh well. Next time I'll work on getting him to lower his head without the rooting motion and hold it still for a second before I take off the halter. Things would be so much easier if he would just eat treats so I could clicker train him. The nicker makers are still hit and miss. Occasionally he will eat them, other times he doesn't want them. The joy of training weanlings. :)