Africa: Our Journey #43 Predator Comes Through

I could tell I was acting like a predator.  And Africa let me know when we got back in the barn.  He tried to nip at me, which he has not done in months.  I went home crying.

The afternoon started in harmony.  Africa came right to the gate when I got there, eager to play. We headed out into the field so he could graze abit before we went into the arena to play at liberty.  He did so well with weave, figure 8, stick to me, and the pedestal.  He even offered another weave.  I was so proud of him.

We walked out to the trailer to practice loading again.  He has stepped up into the trailer before and stood for a few seconds until I asked him to back out.  Today he would step in but back out immediately.  I could tell I was feeling angry and should have stopped then, but I didn't.  Africa got more and more distracted, fearful and I got more and more angry.  I was using the carrot stick to encourage and then to insist.  Not something of which I am proud to admit, but I was acting like a predator.