Max's Journey, A New Found Love

It's been some time since I've had an update on Max. We persisted with the Game of Contact... even with our struggles ;-) We put in quite a bit of time using Max's snaffle bit while asking for confidence and stretching. Every day improved.. less running away, emotions staying controlled. So as Max continued to gain confidence, I really let him make some choices. If he wanted to stop every few strides, we did. I also would ask for something and then WAIT! Ask for the walk, and wait.. which felt like an eternity until he would move one foot! I let him figure out that he could have a say in what we were doing. Pretty soon he started taking over ;-) Once we reached this point, I again started asking him for more. Asking him to be more responsive without being reactive. I started riding him in his rope halter, which I have hardly done with him. He was just doing fantastic!! Recently we started jumping. Who knew I would be jumping this horse who used to be so out of control. And jumping him over 3 feet in a rope halter at that! I also started riding him in the cradle bridle. I realized how comfortable he was in his rope halter, but I wanted to use something so we could have more refined communication, and since the cradle "cradles" his head it is the perfect bridle for him right now. He LOVES it! I honestly can't believe the change in him! We have been now working on some finesse, jumping, and even cantering out in the open. Max actually likes to be ridden now! We're both having so much fun and are now working on advancing, instead of just constantly working on Max's emotions and thinking he should always go SO fast. Max is like a different horse now! I still can't believe what a joy he is to ride!! We're having a blast! Thanks to Parelli!