Posts Tagged ‘cue
The Many Smiles of Boomerang
Last year right before the Extreme Cowboy Race I taught Boomerang to smile. Quickly this trick has jumped to the top of the list as one of his all-time favorites.
I have a hand signal cue and a verbal cue for this trick, but most days Boomer just likes to smile for the sake of smiling.
Most times if he just sees me break out the camera he gives me a big beaming smile.
Other times I call his name and he’ll flash me a toothy grin – always followed by the cutest nickering to let me know he heard me.
I love how each smile is different and quirky, just like my silly little Boomerang.
Boomerang pefects his Bow
Back in June of last year I started teaching Boomerang to bow. We were getting close to perfecting it (In which I tap his leg and ask for bow and he drops his knee to the ground with ease), when I got slightly sidetracked because Boomer in a way taught himself to laydown on command.
Fast forward nearly a year later and I realized I never “finished” the trick. Boomer simply knew to pick up his leg and lower himself to the ground as I help up his foot for him. Not exactly a polished trick, as I really want him to be able to do it himself just like Minnow.
So after a particularly vigorous ride the other day I knew Boomer was sweaty enough to be enticed to put himself in the soft fluffy screenings in our arena. After one or two attempts to ask him to lift and hold his leg himself, he pretty much figured out what I wanted. I started rewarding him even longer while he stayed bowing and eventually started adding a release word for him. Soon I hope that he’ll stay in the bow until I give him his release word.
Not bad for a quick 5 minute training session.
