April 13, 2018
Spent bulk of the day at the barn helping Adelle. As I drove towards front gate, stopped by and worked with Mikey as I told him I would. I kissed at him and called his name and he quickly walked in my direction.  Click and treat the moment he began walking towards me. He's getting really good about being assertive about going after the target (tennis ball on old dressage whip). I can hold it out further from him and make him walk a few steps to touch the ball with his nose.  Click/treat. He gets that! I also groomed him in the middle of his home paddock.  Then I worked on asking him to back up by word and he did not understand it until I lightly touched the front of his shoulder and pressed lightly.  click and treat. We did this SEVERAL times and finally he offered on his own to take one medium sized step back. click and treat, of course. Along the way to getting him to do all that (the one step back) were attempts on my part to cue him via waggling my fingers parallel backwards (much like a guide on a aircraft carrier indicating direction to a fighter jet)...plus I tried wiggling the lead rope a lot to make it slightly obnoxious to him and suggesting to him (a la Parelli) that he might consider taking a step back.  Once he gave it to me...much coo-ing and the click/treat.  I also played with whoa, come.  I would target him so he came forward and then ask for him to whoa.  He finally got the idea that all he had to do was stand there and I'd reward him for his "whoa."  And I reinforced his coming to me by kissing, the ole slight leaning forward and stroking the imaginary lead rope to my solar plexus.  He easily understands that concept. I explained I needed to go on home so I undid his halter and lead (most of the time I did not even use the lead...just let it dangle)...and once I was out of his paddock, I made him take a step back (away from the fence...and at my behest (word "back" ) and clicked and treated him.