November 2008

Thursday 27th November

The mild weather got me out with Sol this afternoon and we did a lot of what we did yesterday but instead of trying to go sideways over a barrel I went down a peg and asked him to sideways over a tyre. Even this he found worrying, he is a bit sceptical of tyres anyway as they have a tendency to 'trap' his feet because he tenses up with them. Just approaching and retreating helped with this task though and we were sidewaysing around with me in Z1 all over and suddenly he was over the tyre without really noticing, in fact he positively looked around after he'd done it as if to say 'wow, how did that get there?'. We did it from the left and right and walked away when he was noticebly calm about it.

Cantering was good but it's very slippery in the field now so didn't want to do too much of that. His COD in canter with SLC's was good and very close to what I'm asking of him so that was very encouraging. I also asked him to trot the weaving pattern around 4 cones and he did this very well and with me about 12' away, as I've been using the 45' rope I am asking for things at longer distances which has been fun.

Saddling and bridling was great and I rode like yesterday but with a bit more emphasis on the bridle/bit today. I even let the other reins go for a bit and did some loose rein riding and I don't think he noticed the difference as he went very well. I also did some friendly game with the reins attached to the bit. This consists of picking the reins up in one hand, taking them close contact near the mane with the other hand and stroking the rein back to the ends of the reins where you make contact with the other hand and then it's that hands turn to go to the reins near the mane and stroke the rein back again. This encourages the horse to take the bit and not be afraid of it, showing soft hands that can hold the reins. It also encourages the horse to move onto the bit and arch it's head nicely without worry. Solly did very well. He has a lovely arched neck anyway and this really was a positive way for him to accept the bit back. I also asked for a bit of sideways with the fence and without the fence with pressure on both sets of reins and after a bit of thinking it made sense to him.

Next I opened the roundpen gate, he did fab with this again and then we went and walked and trotted around the field. We stopped at some obstacles so that he could be comfortable in the open space and he even stood on the pedastal with ALL FOUR FEET WITH ME RIDING HIM! how cool is that. I was well chuffed. Then near the end I asked for a bit of canter and then opened the roundpen again and took all his tack off, groomed him, petted him, gave him treats and then asked him to stick to me to go out of the arena. I started walking out, the gate was open, and then I ran and he trotted/cantered up to me for his last hug and treat. He's cool and today was another lovely day with him.

Wednesday 26th November

Today has been fab. I went out and Solly came from another field to be with me, he brought the whole herd down to the playfield and he was up for big time scratches and rubs too. I haltered him and only had the 45' line so we did some normal exercises to start with:

energy stuff, flexions, yo-yo's, circling w/t/c, COD's t/c, jumps, standing on the pedastal etc. All went well and I go straight into something new.

The something new today was to see if I could get Sol's Z5 to the pedastal for an eventual stand on the ped with back feet! Well he couldn't actually go nearer than 3' to it so I ended up playing sideways around it to not make it about the pedastal and he actually got quite close to it by mistake! lol. I ended on a good note and only did it from one side today, something to work on.

I then try some driving from Z3/4 and start to teach Sol to back up from me gently pulling his tail. He actually did both of these very well, very low phases used. After this we go over to a single barrel and I start the process of asking him to sideways over it. To start with I just want him to be happy and comfortable being able to sideways up to it. He has a bit of trouble but I use a LOT of approach and retreat and end on a good note so that we can improve this over the next few sessions we have. To end the sideways I ask him to sideways from Z1 with me and then with me in Z3 again, he's pretty good with both of these now.

Next I went into the 1oo' roundpen where I have some half sized plastic barrels set up and we practised figure of 8's at canter with SLC in the centre again. Today was much better, an improvement from yesterday on both sides and also on his responsibility of staying in canter around the barrels. Again I only do a few, get it good and leave it for another day.

So then it's grooming and saddling and today I put the bridle on (went well again) with the whole mecate rein set up (this includes rein leathers). I still have the halter on but I put my Savvy reins on this, they're black so I can see each set of reins easier (Savvy reins are single reins that clip onto the bit or halter).

I do some pre-ride checks with this set up and Sol seems fine with it all. So, back into the 100' roundpen to start with, using a loose rein, and we do some walk around the barrels, figure of 8's and then walk and trot riding the rail with some yin-yang patterns where I get to change my diagonal. I put in some small circles to change the direction and also do some DHQ's where Sol takes this as LF and stops very well. I then go onto more backups and back up around a barrel. Then I ask him to circle around the barrel on a loose rein, cool.

When I use the reins for say backups I use both sets of reins making sure the mecate/bridle reins are slightly looser than the halter black reins so that Sol still gets the gentle halter feeling for what I ask. I will continue to do this maybe for a week or so until I feel he's happy about taking aids from the bit.

So, to expand on what we're doing in the roundpen I go to the electric fence opening of the pen, I bend and get the opening, get Sol to go through the gap, I change hands with the electric fence end and then I ask him to sidle up to the gap again so that I can close the pen again. He does this very well. Have only done this a couple of times but he's really good at it now.

Outside the pen we do some ride the outside of the pen fence in walk and trot and then put in a couple of canters which go very well. I feel really comfortable today with his canter. On a high I go and do the cross jump a couple of times too. Yeehaa!! ;-)

Trotting

Backup

Cantering

Jumping

All in all today has been great. I felt confident about Solly and our journey together. Everything is going in the right direction and it really feels like we're becoming good partners now. I was very happy with how the bridling has gone and that he's okay with the polyurethene bit in his mouth.

After such a great day I brought Sol up so I could trim his hooves. Not much to do, just basic maintenance but his toes get long and he can trip if I leave it too much. It's actually been 2 months since the last trim so he's done very well. Amazing how little their hooves grow in the colder weather. Anyway, whilst I was doing him, when I was taking a break he saw himself in the reflection of our front door....I'm not sure if he was fascinated by this or looking at himself seeing what a lovely boy he is. He was quite taken with the refection and stood looking at himself for ages! awhh. ;-))

Monday 24th November

Well today I felt a bit better, cold has almost dried up but I feel a bit tired so only went out with Solly for a couple of hours. It's been snowing up here in Glenshee for a couple of nights so we had about 6" of snow, now nicely compacted down, soft flaky snow near the ground with a hard crust on top. I didn't want to do too much as the mud underneath is still slippery.

So, I go out and Solly catches me beautifully. I think he's missed our time together as much as I have. I halter him and have the 45' line on as I need to get used to using this more.

First thing we do is some energy exersises, walk/trot/walk/backups to get in tune with each other. Then I ask him to stand on the pedastal with 4 feet, not a problem at all, he goes straight up and waits.

Next I do some circling in walk and trot asking for some transtitions and then move the circles over to the jumps and he does three good jumps for me with a change of direction in the circles too.

I then bridle him from sitting down on a barrel and he actually lowered his head on his own and grabbed at the bit to put it in. I give him a treat for this as this is great. I fuss him lots, put the 22' line on him again and then move into the 100' roundpen. Here I ask for some circle transitions again, just walk/trot/walk and then a bit of canter. He's okay with this but it's much easier when he's not slipping about on the mud so I take it slowly for him.

I decide to ask again for the canter/trot figure of eights again. We started this a few weeks back and I'm taking it really slowly whilst in the learning phase. What I want is for him to canter around the barrel then come into me and change direction at the trot so that he can do a simple lead change (SLC) for the canter out and around the other barrel. Today he managed to actually canter around the right hand barrel and change direction with a wonderful SLC, really emphasising his forequarters away from me....fab stuff. On the left hand barrel he cantered around it well but didn't come in for a change of direction so I have noted that this is a difficult side for him and will work on COD with him in walk and trot again so that in canter this will be better. I'm very excited that he's learning this as I want to be able to do this ridden soon but want to see him do it online before attempting with me in the saddle.

Anyway, on this good note I then ask him to sidle up to a low barrel and get on him bareback. I don't do much ridden work, just in walk, figure of eights around the barrels and some ride the rail with small circle COD's. It was good to sit on him and he had the bridle in and it didn't make a difference to him at all today. Cool ;-)

So, just before going up for some lunch as I was feeling a bit tired so I took Sol into the 50' roundpen and put him at liberty there. I do a few circles, COD and ask him to jump the barrel I'd put in their earlier. He did very well although circling at liberty needs some work, haven't tackled doing transitions yet, this is my weakest thing online and liberty but will work on it as I get more confident about doing it with him.

Lastly I ask him to stick to me at walk/trot and canter and this was good. He was actually doing canter quite close to me and it was lovely.

OOh, I just remembered that we also did sideways with me in Zones 3 and then in Z1, he did very well and was calm doing the task.

Friday 21st November

Today thoughts of going out with Sol were stopped the second I opened the curtains this morning as it's SNOWING! Now normally this wouldn't really stop me going out but because of my cold not fuly being gone I think it's advisable to stay in the warm again. Hey ho!!

BUT, whilst I've been getting better from my cold I've been doing a lot of thinking, about training and about being progressive and where my journey with Sol is going and it occured to me that we've actually had him for a WHOLE YEAR now. I went back to the start of this blog and it was on the 16th November 2007 that Solly came down in our trailer to our home. Gosh, a whole year!!! doesn't time fly when you're having fun....sure does;-)

I've also realised that by going through bits of this blog that Sol and I have come far in such a short time really. He's being a great teacher to me and I think he's learning lots too. I'm so glad he's with us and our herd and he really bought a whole new dynamic to us all. Love him to bits ;-))

Wednesday 19th November

I'm suffering with a bad cold. Sniffles, fuzzy head, weakness, sore throat, chesty cough etc etc. So I've taken to my bed and will stay here until I'm fit enough to come out and play again. Really missing being outside and missing all our horses. Really missing Sol as we're coming along so well but know that I need to get well or this cold will drag on and on. Hopefully will be back in the saddle, literally, next week ;-)

Saturday 15th November

I still feel 'off' today, think I've picked up a cold somewhere this week, throat is sore and I feel a bit run down. So I go out and help Mark with his Holly today BUT dear Solly wants to be with me so he plays 'stick to me' for a long time and I have him just following me, not barging into me and standing still with me whilst I teach Mark. He's very good and it's lovely to have him truly want to be with me.

We watch as Mark and Holly play with the pedastal and then Mark asks me to prove that we stood all 4 feet up yesterday....well I love a challenge so I ask Solly to get onto the pedastal, well he stood up there calmly before Mark had time to get the camera ready! lol.

He's got that 'look at me, aren't I clever' look on his face again! lol

Then I asked him to come off the pedastal and go back from the other side...

...not a problem ;-)

He's really got this game down well and it always amazes me how they learn things as a few months, even weeks ago the pedastal was causing him problems!


After he did this he 'stuck to me' again for a while and then I wanted to do some dragging of the tyre for Mark to get Holly used to things moving before her trying to drag things. Well dear Solly followed the tyre at liberty....he was jumping about with this a few weeks ago, now it's a fun plaything! Cool ;-)

Had a good time with Sol today, his playfulness is coming out and being at liberty gives him the choice to be with me or not and I love that he chooses to stay with me and play.

Friday 14th November

I didn't feet up to much today so thought it was a good opportunity to go out and spend some undemanding time with the whole herd. I took a horsey hair brush just in case any of them wanted a groom and went out to just hang with them.

First dear Stormy came up and I gave him a treat and hand groomed him (this is where I go over the horses whole body with my hands getting mud and dust off and getting the hair seperated from where there's been rain on them, it's a very friendly thing to do and they love it) and then brushed his mane and tail. After him my dear Tara came up and she got the same grooming with also some scratches on her belly as she loves these. My friends little Highland pony came over next, we don't do anything with this boy, he's quite old now but I like him to be friendly to me so this was lovely that he came over for a groom too.

After those three it was my Solly's turn, he came up and wanted scratches on his head and grooming and he really looked like he was enjoying it too. After him Fortune came up, she and Solly have been quite close the last few days which is cute but when I started grooming Fortune Solly tried to butt in a bit so I had to back him off from my herd of two (me and Fortune) so that she was comfortable and not being moved around by him. She takes quite a time to groom her mane and tail as they're very thick and long but Solly did well to just stand and watch and not butt in too many times.

I was going to go on and brush the last horse but Solly wanted some attention, I thought about going and getting the equipment that I'd left on the fence but I really just wanted to hang today so I decided to give him something to do that would keep his brain interested.....what could I do? How about standing on the pedastal with all 4 feet AT LIBERTY???? So, that's what we did and oh boy he did it very well, without much coaching and with a great expression on his face too! how cool is that!!!

He's such a cool horse and really shines with his liberty play, he thinks he's So clever and actually, he is ;-)

He backed of it once and I asked him back up, did that well, then he came off it after a while from the front and I DHQ and asked him back on and again he did it and stayed there longer, in fact until I asked him to draw to me. So he stood on the pedastal actually three times at liberty and I'm very proud of him.

Finally it was Mark's horse Holly's session. She was lying down but I groomed her and brushed her mane and tail whilst she lay down. She's very cool about us being around her whilst she is laying down. After grooming them all I sat down in front of Holly and rested, I had Stormy and Tara to my right watching over us and Solly, Fortune and Ben on the left. It was very cool to be among the herd and be watched over whilst I was sitting down, they were all calm, sleepy and happy and I felt very at peace with them.

Wednesday 12th November

Today a new Savvy Scotland member, Carin, came over from Blairgowrie. I first did a bit of a demo with Tara and then went and got Solly to catch me. We did some stuff online first, energy exercises, circling walk/trot etc. I usually spend a lot more time 'being' with Sol before 'doing' stuff but I knew Carin was on a time limit so it was interesting to see that Sol didn't do as well as normal with his impulsion on circles today!

Next we tried some circle jumps and he did two quite nicely but again the impulsion wasn't right really. After this we did some sideways without a fence and sideways from Z3 which actually went quite well.

For a finale we went into the small roundpen and did some liberty 'stick to me'. He played nicely and we got walk/trot/canter and great stops. Then I opened the pen and he stuck to me in walk/trot/backup transitions and did two jumps well.

Both horses were put on the spot a bit but they did very well and I hope Carin learned some new things as she's just beginning Level 1. I let her play a bit with Tara (being a bit of an easier horse) online and liberty and I hope to go out and see her with her loan horse soon.

(Still no pictures as either the weather is drizzly and bad for the camera or I'm too intent on what I'm doing and forget! will get some more piccie's soon)

Monday 10th November

A bit windy today but not too bad down in the horses playfield. So out I went to play with Sol. He caught me very well, in fact I was sorting out some jumps and he made me jump by being behind me when I stood up! lol.

Start as normal, energy transitions online, backing up and yo-yo's asking for more speed and respect. Then I ask him on the 45' line to do circles on the move incorporating three different jumps in a row whilst still circling. Next I bridle him and ask for sideways from Z3 again and then I stop about 25' from the pedastal and ask him to go up to the pedastal and put his front feet on it. Then from a closer range I ask him to put all four feet up again. All these things go well and I'm delighted that sideways from Z3 is still there.

Next is circling with some more canter, he only canters when I put canter in my body so I have to find a way of getting that whilst standing still...should be interesting!

Then after a break I ask him to drag a tyre in walk and then trot on both sides of his body. This went very well today and he's getting the idea and becoming calmer about something following him about! lol

So then I go into the 100' roundpen and after saddling him and taking the halter off UNDER the bridle (this is a cool thing as the horse has to put the noseband of the halter in his mouth and allow me to manoeuver it over and under the bit to release the halter! he does this really well) I put the hackamore on and proceed with some tries at canter/trot fig 8's. This is where the horse goes around the barrel in canter then drops to a trot to change the direction/lead and canters again around the next barrel. He was definitely trying hard today and we're getting the idea better.

Next I mounted from the right off a barrell and with the bridle still on (1st time/no reins still) I do some backup/trot yo-yo transitions, using small circles of all sorts to change the direction or just circling and back onto the track, these went really well so then I asked for canter in both directions for a full circle and then stopped there.

I then went up to the fenceline, opened the roundpen from the saddle and proceeded to ride the rail of the whole field. I've only done this once before in the other direction so it was good to be able to do it again without much thought. We used obstacles to focus on and stop at and the continue on. One of the obstacles was the pedastal which he took delight in standing with his front feet on.

I think to start with the bridle, when being ridden, was a bit challenging fpr Sol. He was not as light to start with and did a bit of head tossing (not much) so I think he was waiting for me to do something different with the bit in his mouth but he settled quickly as things stayed the same for his mouth and with working with transitions and circles his mind got focussed on other things. I will continue playing and riding him with the bridle headstall and bit until it's all second nature for him.

I really enjoyed today and the new tasks of OL sideways from Z3 and ridden trotting yo-yo's went really well. I will keep it progressive as this is FUN ;-)

Saturday 8th November

A bit drizzly and wet but I still go out and play a bit with Solly as I think the weather is really going to get nasty soon! Fingers crossed I'll get out as much as possible.

So, he caught me well and the energy exercises get him a bit more mentally collected. I bridle him up early in the session this time and he took it quite well and got treated for good behaviour. We then do some circling, on the move and squeezing over jumps. It's a bit slippery today so I don't do too much.

We then mosey on over to the pedastal and he goes up on it very well today, only takes a couple of encouraging movements from me for him to do it. YEEHAA!!

I also then teach him a new task, sideways with me in Z2/3. I only have to ask once and he just does this, I'm really excited about this. He does it both ways like he's done it a thousand times before!! Very very cool ;-)))

Next I take him to play some liberty and in the 50' roundpen I ask him to stick to me but weave in and out of cones around the pen. This was fun and it's great that he can take on something new without becomming introverted. Cool. I then ask for him to fig 8 around two cones which he does like a pro and finally I ask for him to walk, trot and then canter with stick to me around the outside of the pen. Fab stuff, not a long session due to weather but really got some nice moves happening and it's very encouraging for our journey into L3 together.

Thursday 6th November

Today was Solly's day, I got out early and spent a good two and a half hours with him. He caught me pretty well today and I started with friendly and extreme friendly in all zones. Then I did the driving game DHQ, FQ and then with porcupine too. All going well. Next was yo-yo's and then circling and asking for canter now and then, also transitions from trot to walk and back again.

Then I put the bridle on, this went pretty well and I was insistent and patient about asking him to lower his head for this. It's getting better and again I used treats to reinforce the task. After this I asked for circles, he did very small trotting circles which was impressive, then I asked him to put a foot on a small tyre, he's still worried about putting his foot back into the tyre as they tyres keep 'catching' him, so putting his foot on the tyre was good enough today.

Then we did circles with the three consecutive barrel/log jumps, did these very well, calmly but with enthusiasm today. Next was the pedastal. I drove him to the pedastal and he put his front feet up with me at quite a distance, then I got a bit closer and it wasn't too long before he put his all 4 feet up so I let him rest.

Next was the second day of 'dragging' things. I started again with dragging the tyre from my 22' line again, making sure it was in front of him and then letting it slide further and further back until it was behind him. He coped very well, we did this both sides and then I put the 22' line around his neck making sure to hold both ends myself so as not to tighten on him and asked him to pull the tyre. He was a little cautious but brave enough to drag the tyre for quite a while on both sides, then I asked him to back with me so the tyre was coming at him. Did superbly so I left that for today.

After leaving the tyre I used the 45' line on him and asked for some more circles whilst going back to the 100' roundpen. There I started the process of asking for fig 8's with canter and SLC's (Simple Lead Changes - drop to trot at X) it went sort of okay but we got a bit mixed up but not a bad first attempt. I will try this again next time!

Then I took the bridle off and as I hadn't brought the saddle down today but things were going so well I decided to mount BAREBACK!! ;-) Firstly asking for LF with a loose rein which Solly did very well.

Lateral Flexion with loose rein and bareback! eek ;-)

He was quite slow and I'm not sure if it was because he wasn't sure what was going on, I've only ever ridden him bareback a couple of times and maybe no one has ever done this with him seriously but also maybe he was looking after me as he is usually quite eager to walk/trot fast!
Anyway, I was very grateful for him taking his time with the 'go' button! lol.

I have 4 barrels in the corral so I used these as a focus and did some circles and fig 8's in the Question box pattern in walk and then trot (I'm getting braver)

Then he was going so well I asked him to backup around a barrel which he did amazingly well, he's such a clever boy and really thought about what I was asking him well. Next I asked him to sideways between the barrels and going to the left was okay but going right was a not working very well so we went over to the fence and did some work with it over there, I realised that I often go onto the forehand to ask for sideway and I lean forwards. If I take the time to roll my butt backwards and really ask from my HQ's then he does the sideways fine! How interesting! lol.

Next we did some great ride the rail at walk and trot doing small circles from the fence to change the direction and also coming away from the fence and doing a small circle back to the fence as the show in the Patterns. Stormy, my other gelding, decided to come and watch and was sticking his head and neck into the roundpen so I used this to ask Sol to leg yield away from Stormy and then back to the fence whilst riding the rail.

After this I didn't want to go back home for lunch I was having so much fun so I did some liberty. We started on fig 8's but they didn't go too well today, his draw needs some work now and also the barrels were a little too far apart. So I went to the game of 'stick to me' which I did at walk and trot, squeeze over the hay jump and inspirationally did some stick to me at canter which was a new thing to do. He did this very well considering it was his first attempt and we only did it twice on each side and then I sat on a barrel and rested with him. He put his head on my head and almost fell asleep.

Great session and pretty cool to start some new tasks.

Tuesday 4th November

Today there was a shoot on the estate so no riding out and as they were in the hilly paddock by the house and not the playfield I felt it best to just let them be today. Luckily they weren't too put out by the shooting, just moved around a bit and stood still like statues a lot! lol.

By the afternoon I realised that although Holly (bay) is usually the herd leader it was more Tara (black) that led them when they were worried or stressed. So, I went and put my hand on her withers and played the friendly game over and over and over with the carrot stick and string, over her back, neck, around her legs etc. She was really calm whilst doing this and when I moved to let her be on her own for a minute she followed me and almost demanded that I continue with the game. I watched the herd as the shooting went on, and it was pretty close, but they were all calm. Maybe because I was or maybe because I was helping Tara to be calm I'm not sure but it worked and they all seemed much happier for me being out there playing. Cool ;-)

Monday 3rd November

Today is bright, frosty and chilly and perfect for playing with Solly. I actually didn't have a jacket on, which I've needed for keeping rain off recently, but I did have a good fleece on but it felt good not wearing a jacket.

I go out and Sol catches me very well today. Everytime he looked at me I just turned away and waited, as I got closer he looked more and then when I was about 30' away from him I heard him moving and just hoped it was towards me not away! lol. After a couple of seconds he was by my left elbow...ahh!

Firstly today I play lot of friendly in different zones and with different energies, he was pretty cool and I was actually right back in Z5 and he could tell the difference from me playing friendly and then asking for a DHQ from back there, pretty cool. I next work onhis backups, asking for his ears forward but don't get hung up on his ears being back too much and move on quickly.


Then we get to circling and I ask again for one circle in canter which he does almost perfectly. After this we do some jumping, firstly the tyre jump with a squeeze and then circling on the move where he jumps 1) the cross jump 2) the corner of the barrel jumps 3) the barrels themselves, so moving circles and three jumps on a circle without changing direction or trot. He's getting the hang of this isn't he! lol. Just for good measure we then go and do the double log jumps. After a break I drive him to the pedastal and ask for 4 feet on the pedastal from a distance. He has difficulty with this but puts 2 feet up from a distance and then I move closer to help him with the back feet and when he does it well I give him a treat which makes a big difference to his attitude about being up there! ;-)



Then I decide to bridle him and use the same treating principle, when he takes the bit nicely into his mouth and I can bridle him he gets a treat. I do this three times in a row with plenty of rest inbetween and there was a definite difference the third time. I will keep doing this until he takes the bit willingly and easily.

Following this I start on another new thing, getting him ready to drag things. This consists of starting out with Solly walking and trotting with the 22' line over his back and around his front dragging on the floor beside him. He's okay with this so I go to the next stage and that is of me dragging a tyre from the 22' line and him following it. He has some difficulty with this, after all he's only ever seen a tyre sitting still in the field so this probably blew his mind! lol. He got the hang of it at walk both sides, I slowly let the 22' line go longer thereby putting it more at his front feet and then more level with his belly. He was a bit worried about it going behind or near his back feet but I will work on this daily until it's okay. This might just help with the spooking at birds too.



Liberty next and I do it with him saddled and bridled. I am just asking today for circles with transitions of walk/trot/walk. He's not bad to the left but harder to slow with me in his right eye going to the right. He also lost his draw a bit so I need to work on that next time before we do the circling. All in all it wasn't bad.

Next I do the sidling to a fence and mounting on left and right sides. He actually remembers this very well from yesterday so will continue to do this both sides and mount from the right. First ridden stuff I do is moving on the HQ's and move on the FQ's, he has a bit of trouble with this but wait for him to get it right before stopping. After that he's okay with it. Next I ride the rail around the 100' roundpen with walk/trot transitions adn then circling with leg yielding away from the circle and back to the circle, he's very light when asking for leg yielding and it really focusses him and calms him down. When coming back to the central comfort zone I take him to the cross jump and just jump it. He does a lovely jump and I feel very comfortable doing it. I remember now that I actually put my stirrups down one hole so maybe that makes me feel not so perched on the top of the saddle today!

Next I decide to be daring and actually ride the rail of the whole field. I know where the scary spots are and decide to just take it one step at a time, stopping at obstacles and comfort zones and not take things quickly. SO, off we go in walk, down the main fenceline, walk over trotting poles, keep away from the scary gate with overhanding trees to stop in the centre of the Question Box area, two steps back. Next the rail is actually the River Shee (no fence here) but do some walk yo-yo's (walk/backup/walk/backup) whilst focussing on the pedastal. Stand two feet on pedastal and relax. Next focussing on the next gateway and fence we do some leg yielding and circle a horse on the way. Stop and fence and relax. Next to down the fenceline and head towards the log jumps, circle log jump three times for calmness then go to the other log jump and circle that twice. Moving on we go to the tyre jump and circle that and then walk to the cross jump, put in a few strides of trot and jump it well, turning right on the exit of that jump and trot around the 50' roundpen and stop and relax in the centre of the two roundpens (our comfort zone) YEEHAA...we rode the whole of the outside of the field without a pheasant upsetting us. I'm so pleased.

On this good note I decide to do one lap right and left in canter around the 100' pen. I drop my carrot stick so that I can use the end of the lead rope if I need to ask for canter but Sol is up for a canter and he does it really well, nicely and not rushing. He stops nicely too, with just one suspension rein always stopping in our comfort zone. On this good ending I give him a huge hug and dismount.

Session not quite over as it's time to walk Sol out on the walk again. Today I decide to take him the other way around the walk, he's much more enthusiastic, walking pace is better and no stops. At the place where I was mounting before I mount again and take him up the hill and we almost get to the top but he stops, I back him up a few steps but there's something he's not happy about as he turns and looks home. SO, I jump off and we happily do the rest of the walk side by side. Vast improvement with him, he jumped only with one pheasant and that jump was only a very fast judder, other pheasants fly nearby but he doesn't panic about them. Phew!! having a good day and I think my confidence is growing and this is really helping Solly. He's such a good boy.

Saturday 1st November

It's a brisk, bright day today and there is a shoot on later today so we can't do too much but Mark and I go out and play with Solly and Holly and have a bit of fun.

With Solly he catches me well, backs up okay and I work a bit on trying to get his ears forward. We circle and then I challenge him to circle without changing gait, do a few COD's and then his respect becomes nicer. After this I take him over to the bridle and ask him to sniff it, he nibbles it a bit and I think he knows it's different. It's a bigger bridle that used to be used by Mark and Holly and the bit is one of the new plastic ones too. So, here was the challenge. To bridle him with a lowered, calm head!




Well we did a LOT of approach and retreat, holding it on his lips and taking it away when he lowered his head, then I asked for him to lower and tilt his head towards me doing the same thing. He still had a LOT of opposition reflex but I just stayed passively persistent and then he took it in his mouth. I bridled him and left it for a minute whilst he tasted and chomped on it and as soon as he was quiet with his mouth I carefully removed it, gave him a rub and a second or two to think about that and then repeated this a few times. In the end I wanted to 'not make it about the bit' so I left the bridle on and went and played with him and forgot about it.

He didn't look very happy to start with, same old face, but I think by the end of the session he too had forgotten about it more. It's so light it's like he's not got anything there and with the bridle being much bigger now there is no pressure on his poll or forehead. I think all in all it went very well and I'm happier now using this bit for him. I will take this one step at a time, playing with him wearing it for a week or so, then him wearing it whilst riding in the hackamore and finally riding with it and using it.

Anyway, I continued playing with him with the bridle, got 4 feet on the pedastal again, not too much asking today, he's getting the idea now.

After doing some more circles (don't change gait, don't change direction) I went and asked him to do the tyre jump, barrel jump, cross bar jump and across the corner of the two barrel jumps too. He was in a good mood and jumped very well. This then put me in the mood for liberty so I took him to the 50' roundpen and played in there. 7 games and quite a bit of circling. I left the bridle on for good measure!

He got a bit carried away with the circles, I've not attempted circling with him at liberty really, he is quite good with close circles so next time I may start with those and try to increase the distance slowly so as not to make him unconfident about what I'm asking.

Finally I went into the 100' roundpen with Mark and Holly. We've never tried to do liberty together in the same pen before so it was great that our horses stayed with us and didn't wander off. We also did stick to me around barrels and over the hay jump. I also asked for a squeeze over the hay jump from Solly and he did this extremely well. Very proud of him and we all had a lot of fun.