Update

Well, Merlin has been going from strength to strength and I can do just about anything with him now. I've learned that stallions are sensitive and need a lot of respect. When I take new things slowly, Merlin goes through the same routine every time, just to let me know he's wary. My routine is the same every time. I approach and retreat. I show him the respect by letting him move away from the 'threat' if he wants to, and then stand patiently while he works it out. Then I beckon with my right hand, and he will come to me, at his own pace. If the object is REALLY scary, then this will happen several times, but if it's simply fly repellent or antiseptic cream, then he does it as a token gesture.

He's so good at coming when I beckon, that on occasion, I've got him to come to me in the field, just with a gesture. His reward is a scratch on the forehead, and then to be left to munch in peace.

This week I put the bit on Merlin's bridle and he wore it for a few minutes before starting to fidget. I quickly ended the session on a good note and with lots of praise. We always do leading practices, regardless of what else I've been doing, and this is for a good reason. To get the habit deep in Merlin's brain, so that whatever else goes on, as soon as I go into my routine, he should respond in the expected way. I think it worked this week when we were out on a walk and a lawnmower upset him. I stopped him and did some back-ups and walk-ons and he seemed to forget his need to run away or kill the mower (personally I could have killed the man wielding it)!

Parelli says that getting a horse to back up, when all it wants is to run away, switches off the adrenaline and therefore the need to bolt. This seems to be the case in my limited experience so I'll keep on doing it until it proves not to be the case :)

Anyhoo, he's still my little star at the moment and we still plan to have him partially broken in by the end of the Summer. Next year will be the time of the really hard work!