Game 2: Porcupine

Well, if I didn't learn much last time because Jester was too cooperative, we swung the other direction this evening. The Porcupine Game is about submitting to pressure and moving away. I'm really glad the booklet broke it down to many steps and gave some guidance as to when I should move on to the next step. Let's just say we played for 40 minutes and walked away with a very small success on step 1.

I'm also really glad there were videos of Pat playing with a horse, as well as simulations with people. It gave me a lot to consider. What I hadn't considered was the other directions a horse can go to get away from pressure, besides the obvious yield and the opposite rebellion of pushing into it. Jester's primary response to pushing on his chest with a Carrot Stick was to step to the side and make me move to keep the pressure on. Once I was moving, he could easily push me back. Clearly he's better at this game than I am.

I got quicker on my feet, and tried to set him up along a fence so he couldn't step sideways, and this yielded better results but small ones. He seems to consider stepping back a second or two into Phase 2, but then stands there solid into Phase 4. Should I reward the moment's hesitation or wait for something more substantial? I know it's good to start small, but I'm not sure I'm not imagining the shift.

In the line of things I can change or control, I think that rather than counting "1, 2, 3" for each phase, say "back it up, back it up, back it up" in my mind (Level 1 has a ban on talking aloud so your body language is forced to be bigger) to focus my intent.

I definitely have a new insight ("How interesting!") into Jester being right next to me all the time. It's tricky poking a horse with a 3 foot stick when he's 18 inches away. And his relaxed disinterested manner when I'm trying to work with him started to feel like an avoidance technique tonight. I think he might be cleverer than I gave him credit for.

Well, let the games begin!