31st Jan

just tuned up quickly on the ground as pushed for time, and did some H/Q disengagements with the porcupine game as have been neglecting this, and know that the right in particular is really sticky ridden

got o and worked on this under saddle, and slowly but surely it got better, but she likes to avoid the issue on the right, and just drifts away and doesnt step under, tis a case of being firm but fair and going up the phases if she ignores me.. need to get this bettet to give me the confidence that I can talk to those H/Qs before we venture out on the roads again, looking back, neglecting this has been a big issues, as if we get in a tiz, it's not well enough established

had an amazing riding lesson today, it really is helping my confidence, rode a lovely horse called comet, and got a lovely soft feel, without having to force it, and really felt the connection, brilliant!!

30th Jan

Got the 45ft rope out today - it's been a while, the look of suprise when i can keep backing her that far is always hysterical. Worked on seeing if i could get one step back just with my life up and body position when she was back at 30ft or so, this went really well, and shows how much i have clarified my language with her. Draw is terrible, must work on that

Did a bit of circling, but kept it short, she wasnt wanting to canter like the other day, so didnt force the issue

lovely backwards and over

no fuss again with snaffle ;0)) Rode for 15 mins today, she was putting her head down a bit and leaning on the bit, but giving it a bit of a gentle shake seems to stop this, although not sure thats the right way of going about it, and also stopped when she was holding the bit nicely

back up was a bit sticky, but good on third attempt, left it there for the day

29th Jan

As yesterday was high energy, kept it all low key today, played on the ground doing walk changes of directions and more yileding than i normally do

put the snaffle on over halter, and she took it at first time of asking, and no fuss, so that seems to have improved, hopped on for the first time in a month, flexion checked out both sides

just did literally 10mins in walk, ensuring we stopped before she got bored, she was perfect, a good start to coming back into work

28th Jan

I love this pic above.... she looks like she is moving really nicely, i would have given anything for a trot that looked like this with happy ears a year ago, but at least we are getting there! and...

.... three, yep three whole circles on a 22ft in canter!! left brained, no bucks, yes, we are making progress; granted there was some galloping and bucking before this ;0)) (the shortest horse in the world seems to be going up the impulsion scale!) BUT, today was a good day

it's weeks since doing anything with Giuditta apart from flexions etc in the stable, a punishing work schedule and horrendous weather have meant she has enjoyed a bit of a holiday, is getting fat, and has put herself back at the top of the herd! Just getting her in and out of the field has been getting progressively harder, so much so, realised that I simply have to make more time for her, because we are just going to zoom backwards

so, today off we went, the work last year on not asking for a canter, and slowing her down when she does really seem to have paid off, played seven games with an obstacle as per the new level 2, this went well, and then tried some squeezes over a jump, not only was she jumping it, but she was doing so with gusto and was cantering out, now this not being what i wanted, got a few chances to stop her in her tracks and insist she disengage, and all of a sudden, she was playing, ears pricked and having fun!!

circling game was fun, she initially was taking off - I wouldn't describe it as right brain, more a bit of a sense of spring in the air, but she was offering top speeds, so much so, getting downward transitions was a challenge (there's a first), and a circle in walk was not happening!! Also got some lovely trot sideways that I was extremely pleased with

with lots of dwell time built in, there it was... three whole circles in canter, I am over the moon, and gave her big rubs and time to reflect on this, Cliff came down with the camera, and got a couple of nice shots and she even went over the jump a couple times more happily

I went to saddle up and realised I hadn't brought the girth down, so called it a day, but really it was a very good place to leave it!!

Fences and pushing

At the session with ali, she talked about horses that push through fences, and or check an electric fence every day, are likely to be the ones that constantly push on their human, and check and test them like a fence every day ;0)) how very, very true!! Considering the state of the fence below, is it any wonder I have trouble!!!!

Haflinger Mayhem!

Came home, discovered horses in the garden.... nothing new there of course, except that previous escapes have been through the poor fencing in the middle which Giddy just pushes under, or electric fencing not on; today they were in the main (secure!!) field

caught them, and went to investigate, as i walked down, I thought my eyes were deceiving me as couldn't see any fence.... walked on, still no fence, on I went, and was very confused.... finally, saw fence, the whole lot - a 60metre run or so was all the way down the field, along with three fence posts; now these are not just your ordinary fence posts, but fence posts that were 3 or 4 feet down in concrete, the fence itself is proper horse fencing, secured really well across the entire run

I have no idea what has happened, other than on her normal quest for greener grass, she has somehow pushed through, but somehow has managed to get caught up and panicked, (no idea how, it doesnt make sense) and turned and run back through it, but she has taken the whole lot down and taken it across the field! Serious display of quite how strong she is!

you'd think she would have really hurt herself, but aprt from pulling a shoe, and being slightly lame, there were no cuts etc and none the worse for wear!!

Perhaps she will have given herself enough of a fright to never push through fences for grass??? ..... hmmmmmmmm, maybe not!!