:] Glad it went better this time...one thing I've learned from Sage in the past two weeks is that little tiny things that make no difference to me really can legitimately make a huge difference to him. And I have to honor that.

With him, its learning that, ok, its all in *my* head that he's upset about me doing up the girth or putting on his saddle or even his halter. But its REAL that he gets very very upset being ridden over grass now that he can't eat it. And that doing so around dinner time is just pure torture right now.

Point I'm trying to make is...so Tucker's scared of chickens. Us humans have equally irrational things, they're just our *own* things you know? So they make sense to us. Its ok that he didn't get over it quick. He might need to spend three sessions being scared of chickens, who knows? But spending that time with him will help your relationship down the road. The important thing si that tucker gets to be Tucker. (And, that when he's irrationally scared that you listen to his thresholds, and do what you have to do to keep yourself and your requests on his radar. But you're doing that stuff already.)
Not sure if that made any sense I'm reaaally tired from riding today. Time for bed!