Walkies!

Breeze and I went for a walk in the woods Sunday evening and she was a very tense snorting monster lol. Then I realised we hadn't been in the woods for a whole week and the last two times were quite interesting.

With this in mind I decided not to try and ride her but to just play. Breeze started out being a bit tense and ignoring me. The trees and bushes were far more interesting and edible. As we walked along she met a few thresholds and I respected them and waited for her. B offered to hop on the tree stump that lately she has been staring at and snorting! Around the next bend she decided I wasn't worth listening to so we had a discussion about who was the leader and from then on she was soft and light, eager to go in the log trailer without hesitation.

On the way to the top of the old woods we weaved the trees and played the driving game from zone 5. At the top of the old woods we found a small log the size of a jump pole and we got back up over the 'pole' a few times and I managed to take one in focus photo (see above lol) and she didn't offer sideways! Woohoo! We did some mounting simulation by the long log. Breeze is usually unconfident the minute I touch her back, even when grooming, so we did a lot of approach and retreat with that until she could stand still and not move away. I found if I leaned over her back, up came her right leg and she did her 'begging' behaviour thing. I totally ignore this when she does it on the pedestal at the yard, I wait until she puts her leg down before I give her a treat. Her lining up for me to get on is steadily improving and again I think I blew her mind by not getting on. It was nice to see how the shape of her back has changed and is becoming more flat and muscular. I am always struck by this view of Breeze. I spend most of my time either on the ground looking at all of her or looking from her back not at it.

On the way back I played with using my c/s to direct her as we weaved along through the trees etc in preparation for carrot stick riding. She was much softer and really listening to me. Even her desire to go faster to get home sooner wasn't that obvious and she was happy to go past the exit without getting snotty. As soon as she went forward I gave her a treat and we turned and left the woods.

Last night we played in the school for a very short time. I focused again on asking very very quietly for circle game. I praised her every time she came in but sent her again and we got change of direction too. She is becoming far less resistant now and I only saw the whites of her eyes once when she drifted backwards. I immediately took all the pressure off and it wasn't long before she came to me. This time she backed over a pole and didn't try to sideways too much and best of all didn't go intro when I ignored her. Progress.

I am sorry to say I am becoming very anxious about Sunday's sponsored ride. I hate this about myself. I don't know what I am frightened about, it's kind of the same as hacking around our woods and B has shown me her spooks and unconfidence and I managed it very well and preserved her dignity and built up our confidence. Perhaps I am doing my usual of mistaking excitement for anxiety. It will be ok. It will be fun and we can take it slow if I need to. Lydia is coming so there will be two of us 'rope wigglers' and Sandra will be there to babysit me like Lizzie and I babysat her and Bertie. As Sandra said last night, if B comes off the box a snorting RB nutter I can stay and play with her instead of riding. It's the unknown that unsettles me I think. This is B and I's first outing anywhere so I just don't know how she will be but I will deal with the horse that turns up no matter what.

This evening B and I played in the school again. After some hesitation and thinking about it we got circle game at a very relaxed but forward walk for three laps after her only being able to do one lap then come in! I praised her every time and asked again. It was hard for B because there were others riding in the school which she seems very sensitive to. We walked about a little and went and picked blackberries for Breeze to eat in between tasks lol. Weave around jump sides and a little fig 8. We tried back up over a pole and at first she couldn't but went around instead. She tried to give me sideways and I bumped her quite fast to stop her. She stood for a while licking and chewing and staring at nothing but she wasn't introverted, just really thinking. I asked her towards me then back and she went back over the poles! Hooray! I ended it there, grinning.

Hmmm interesting.

B and I played in the arena again today. We got some very soft circle game in walk with the belly of the rope on the floor for the first time! I focused on asking very quietly again, hardly lifting the c/s. We got back up over a pole which she couldn't do yesterday. She went sideways too so I ignored it which seemed to blow her mind and send her introverted.

We spend a lot of time resting with B going intro, head hanging low, blinking, licking and chewing. She is certainly giving me all her attention in between these 'episodes'. Claire the PP has suggested we don't ride for the time being. I took that as not riding in the arena as I really think Breeze is happy to hack out. Having said that, I really didn't feel like riding today. Breeze just didn't seem in the right frame of mind. The weather was windy and raining on and off which really is a feeble excuse but I have to admit I feel a little anxious about riding all of a sudden.

As is usual for a weekend we spend some time grazing around the yard. I have noticed Breeze is much more relaxed about me touching her/leaning on her. I managed to rasp her feet today with little resistance and she has been offering to get on both pedestals repeatedly. Suddenly her yo yo game has improved and my draw is getting better.

I remember telling Claire yesterday that when I first played with Breeze I was so enthralled with having a willing horse that we did some fab circle game, sometimes managing 10 laps each way... it is this that perhaps pushed Breeze too far, perhaps. Oh well. We live and learn. I made no assumptions when she came to me so just took things as they came and observed more than anything. I am trying hard not to look upon this as a retrograde step and feel bad about it. This journey is never an easy or straight one. I am sure it's full of wrong turnings, roundabouts and by-passes! The road zig zags and some routes take longer than expected.

I have been so excited about my Parelli lesson that I forgot to blog about the vets visit on Friday. Breeze has ulcers in her mouth where her teeth have been a bit sharp and rubbed. The vet really wanted B to be sedated but I didn't. The vet got the job done anyway. I really think the vet likes an easy life and would rather have all the horses doped for teeth floating irrespective of their willingness to be treated. I think B did really well and didn't resist too much, unlike Bertie who was sedated and still reared up! Maybe in future I should make the effort and spend the extra money on an equine dentist.

Wow! PP lesson and LOTS of thresholds!

My brain hurts!!

We had our lesson with PP Claire Burgess today and it was the most intense two hours I have had lately. Immense fun and I have learned such a lot. Claire is a great teacher, she has such a friendly smile and great sense of humour. In fact she was just perfect lol.

In my excitement I dragged all the toys I had to the arena and we didn't play with any of them! I was asked to take the green ball out later on...and the pedestal stayed by the fence lol.

This lessons focus was on being particular after Sandra and I showed what we could do with Bertie and Breeze. As expected B went very introverted when others came to give lessons in the arena. I was amazed later on when Claire said she knew B likes to nap by the way she couldn't circle!

I was very pleased to know that I am giving B exactly what she needs and that we are very well matched as partners. Made me feel very proud of myself, Breeze and our achievements. Also that I have taught Sandra and Bert well too. I had a real BFO moment when Claire pointed out how many thresholds B has! Of course!! Why didn't I see it too!? Just on the circle, let alone everywhere else! It didn't take long for me to get the idea of being particular about B doing exactly as I asked and rewarding the slightest try. I also have to try and ask even more quietly than I am, without even lifting the c/s more than a fraction. I have been working on this lately, just need to refine it even more. Maybe time to find the bell from the old L2!

Breeze went introverted quite often. I definitely blew her mind by letting her rest exactly when she needed it and not allowing her to deviate from what I asked but in a polite and passive way. Having pushed her to her limits in play over the last 5 months just to see how far she would go it's now time to help her get past her thresholds even more than I have been doing. I knew she liked to do sideways, it's her comfort zone where she feels clever and confident. She will offer this every time I ask her to do something she can't.

By the end she had just begun to relax on the circle so it was time to quit that. The look on her face was fantastic. She looked so soft and relaxed. I don't think I have seen that look before when we have played circle game!

Backwards over a pole brought up more thresholds and I need to do more with asking her to come to me i.e.draw. She could back up around the pole but sending her over the pole was too much to begin with. We did get it but as soon as she did this she had to try and side pass the nearby jump side. When I got particular and asked her to come in and not side pass it, she did but it blew her mind and she went introverted for ages.

This is how she stayed for ages while we three humans got together to talk about what we had learned. She kept blinking and licking and chewing and then she blew out really loudly, spraying me with snot lol. That's my little RBI!

Playtime!

I tried to take some photos of Breeze on her new pedestal but this was the only one of her actually on it and in focus because she kept getting off lol. She is developing quite a sense of humour.

This eve I thought we could go in the arena for a 10 minute play....which turned into 45 mins of great fun. I think we have circle game sorted. I find I can turn B's stopping and pulling back into falling leaf and in trot too! Breeze was snaking and tossing her head when we played this and turning very fast. I love to see her play like this and feel very honoured too. I discovered if I turned sideways to her when she pulls backwards on the line, she stops pulling and we carry on. Takes all the pressure off. We had weave the jump sides in trot too and some lovely jumping and turn and face me.

Breeze went introverted twice only and I wondered if it was because there was someone riding around us whom B hasn't shared the arena with before. I let her rest when she dropped her head unblinking to begin with and stroked her face and head. She is spending less time like this which is great.

At one point someone led their horse down the runway next to the arena and Breeze stared at them, ignoring me. So I crept up to zone 5 and tagged her butt with my c/s. She leaped in the air and turned 180 degrees to face me and gave me two eyes. Then she couldn't take her eyes off me!

We got circle game after that in all three gaits and then I walked around with her to cool her a little and we got some very nice stick to me without using the 22' line.

It has taken a while but I can feel our progress towards liberty is happening now. If I had taken the line off she will still have left but there is definitely a better connection between us now. I just pretended we weren't connected by a rope and used the c/s as back up to turn. Porky in zone 1 is getting better as B is beginning to take more notice of the c/s.

We finished with some backing out of the arena and a mosey to her stable. Don't tell anyone but B let me cuddle her tonight. She never lets me do that usually. She almost rested her head on my shoulder as I put my arms around her head and neck. Sweet.

Courage, being stubborn and learned behaviour.

I think B looks more relaxed these days. She is offering me LF!

B stuffing her face with apple after rope throwing and no fear

Chilled

B loves her new pedestal. I am sure she thinks it's her own personal drum!

Well! We have had some very interesting breakthroughs this week. I was very brave and after a short but pleasant play in the school yesterday I got on! I have to admit I felt a little anxious but B was calm. I put the s/s around her neck and managed not to whack me or her with the c/s as I got on! Once on it was clear B wanted out of there which was ok with me. Instead of just heading for the gate she offered me some follow the rail and managed to wait at the gate while I sorted my ropes and c/s out.

We left and I tried a little c/s riding but had to use the reins to begin with. B's head collided with the c/s more than once but she didn't get emotional about it. Need more porky in Z1 I think. We could go in and out of the little courtyard and around the back but we met thresholds elsewhere.

Sandra and Bert were ready to go for a ride in the woods but B couldn't get any further than just outside the courtyard. This where we had more of what I think is learned behaviour. . . napping and refusing to go forwards. I let B rest and wait for ages and we stood and talked to a friend by his car, who had his daughter in his arms. B amused herself by licking the little girl on the hand and making her squeal with delight. So sweet.

A few others had got ready to ride, one of whom was a young girl and I could hear and see she was tense and scared. I am sure B picked up on this which didn't help her to move, except backwards. When they all came out of the courtyard B pinned her ears back, trying to bite them all if they came too close and backing into them! We played the game of don't go back but give me lateral flexion and I was so proud that I stayed calm and knew what I was doing! The pair of us suffer from lack of confidence lol. She does have a 'Lizzie face' when she is being stubborn and it feels like familiar territory. I stroked her and praised her every time she stopped backing up and turned around. I really focused hard on going forward, smiling till all four cheeks hurt! At one point B backed up almost into the car and then offered, yes, offered LF!!!

By this time Sandra and Bert had come over to 'catch us' and B accidentally swung her head up and the two horses heads connected with a loud crack! Poor Bert! He is such a sweet horse and loves to help B out and that's the thanks he gets! No harm done though and suddenly B decided she had enough of this damn game and walked forwards to the road. It was a bit of a meandering 'I can't maintain direction' way to the gate but we made it and across the road into the woods.

By this time B had morphed into my partner and after one stare at the scary tree stump sprouting fungus, for the rest of the time she was calm, relaxed and happy. No stopping or spooking. Her breathing stayed quiet and slow. Sandra and I can both hear her when B is uptight because she does her steam engine impression. It sounds like she is too much on her forehand, but I am guessing here. Today I felt her really stretch into and relax along her back going uphill.

We only went around the 'old woods' but on the way we weaved every possible tree, sometimes circling or fig 8's. Then I had the idea to see is we could do circles along the bridle path. If I can't do this stuff in the arena yet we can do it in the woods! Breeze seems to really enjoy doing all this although she found circling as we go along quite difficult especially turning to the right. She got quite resistant sometimes so I got to really practice asking. We got it and she seemed to relax into it. That also gave us the opportunity to do some walk/trot transitions to catch up to Sandra and Bert some of the time. I am actually quite surprised at how direct line we teach our horses to be. Anything that deviates from the norm freaks them out. I realise that Breeze has big holes in her education and isn't a very rounded horse just yet. I am also surprised that I can manage to teach her all the stuff I have available within the Parelli program. That's what I mean about my own lack of confidence. I think I just have to trust my instincts and follow everything in the study packs. After all, this week I have managed to have B accept the rope being thrown over her head again and again and then back the other way to unwind it. How fabulous is that! It must be true that horses teach people and people do teach horses, that people being me!

We played in the school today after doing the chores. Breeze was stuck to me today and wanted to be with me, even when I took the water buckets to the tap and filled them. Sandra and Bert joined us and we even swapped horses at the end of an hour or so. I tried to teach Bert to side pass over cones but he just couldn't, not yet. And what did I say about him and the new pedestal!? He goes over it and stands on it like an old pro! Even Breeze has taken to it and likes to bang her hooves on it and scrape at it. She can stand on it with all four feet and walk over it leaving her back feet on it.

B was quite challenging again and went quite introverted when other people came to ride in the arena. She definitely cannot take the pressure at the moment. The highlight of today was we got weave in and out of four jump sides at trot! Been trying to get that for months lol. She can circle quite calmly for a few laps either way now and her c.o.d is getting quite snappy. But after a while she explodes and we have to play the going backwards game! I focussed more on Porky in zone 1 today, getting her used to the c/s 'in her face'.

Little by little we trust each other more and I find I have much more savvy and arrows in my quiver than I give myself credit for. This weekend I really think we will be quite ready for our L3 course next May.

In the meantime it's only six days until our lesson with PP Claire! I am still trying not to allow myself to get too RBI about it!!!

Backwards? Let me help you!

Breeze and I have been getting used to playing in the arena in the dark this week although the lights are pretty good. Tonight was our second play. . . I played with Bertie last night. B stayed out and I felt at a loose end and Sandra asked me to play with him. Bert was brilliant! I haven't played with him since April and it looks like Sandra has done a lot with him in the meantime. I have taught her well lol. Bert made me feel like a real L3 student and I secretly wished B and I could be like this. We will soon enough, we just need more time.

This evening I decided I was going to try and push B out of her comfort zone. I have tried to be very careful with her and her pulling back issues lately. Every time she has pulled back I have let her and either held my ground and waited or given her lots of slack and waited. She is definitely less extreme now and every time she stops pulling and comes to me she gets rests and treats which seem to be paying off. Tonight I felt ready to deal with whatever she threw at me and see if I could get her past this sticking point.

But. Circle game can be hit and miss and this evening Breeze decided to be snotty and try and resist my asking for circle game. So I did 'a Linda' and every time she refused to circle and pulled back I said ok lets see how far and fast you can go! First time we went most of the way around the arena backwards in trot then had circle. Second time not so far only she backed into a jump and knocked it flat. Third time she decided to go back with less energy and stopped nicely. Each time I gave her time to rest and think and asked for circle. She went a little introverted but no where near as deep as she has been in the past. Great!

Then she stopped backing up completely and we had a lovely calm circle both ways in walk and calm trot instead of ragged trot or canter. At this point we left the arena.

We had played with other ideas tonight. Weave was ok but she still has trouble yielding her HQ at the end of the line of jump sides. They are too high for her to side pass which gives her something to think about. Of course her side ways is very good and interestingly when I ask for half circles against the fence she gets emotional about that too.

Breeze saw the new pedestal for the first time this evening. She stopped, sniffed it and then stood on it! Bert would have nothing to do with it. Give him time.

I am looking forward to our lesson with Claire the PP in two Saturdays time. I wonder if Breeze will be sweet for her and make me out to be a liar lol.

New toy.

A friend of mine has made me a new metal pedestal. He painted a gold star on it. If I am to live up to being known as the circus trick person at the yard, at least I have the right toys!

Very challenging ride.

We had a great play in the school before saddling up nicely. What I took for exploding on circle game has developed into actual play. Breeze plays c.o.d side to side giving me both eyes! I imagine we look a little like Pat and Casper but with less grace on my part! We have to keep our energy down tho' so that she doesn't get unconfident and scare herself. We played sideways along the back fence, fig 8 was better today, and we stopped for blackberries and rests. B jumped over a jump with two poles and turned and faced me three times and we ended it there.

Everything started well in the woods. Breeze offered to go into the 'log trailer' and we went 'off piste' most of the way around the old woods. Coming out back onto the bridle path the horses spooked at a human running towards us and B was spooky from then on until we came to the turn to the viaduct. She did not want to go any way but home. She tried to turn and I kept on asking for lateral flexion until she could stand still. She tried to run backwards but I just turned her gently, around and around. Then I waited, letting all the energy sink down in me, willing myself to be calm until she was ready to go in the direction I wanted her to go in. Her expression was one of determination and reminded me so much of Lizzie! When she did move I couldn't stop stroking her, telling her how marvelous, clever and good she is.

Of course, down on the viaduct are the 'Port-a-cabins' and fencing etc where they are renovating the bridge. The horses have been past twice from the other direction, not this way. Breeze could not go past or stand still. Bert was rooted to the spot. I could feel she was quite ready to run and then both the horses spooked and almost did bolt off!! I actually thought 'perhaps I should get off' as I one rein stopped B and found I was shaking with fear and adrenaline. Sandra immediately offered to get off and led Bert past the horse eating machinery while B and I followed, B snorting and arching her neck so she could stare at the monsters.

We rewarded the horses with some grazing when we got to the nice grass which gave all of us time to be calm and then headed to the mile and 1/4. Breeze took the lead so I thought I would see how her trot was. She was ok for a while but soon slid to an emergency stop at a threshold and we waited for Sandra and Bert to go in the lead. We tried trotting again but B was too tense and she did her 'Bambi' trot. So it was back to walk for a while. B and I took the lead again and I asked her for another trot which was much more relaxed and ridable. I wanted to go home thinking about the nice parts of the ride, not the scary bits because otherwise by the time I get to ride again there is a chance I may lose confidence.

We had a bit of a threshold by the exit when I asked B to carry on. She followed Bert past then we turned and left the woods. We had a bit of a mooch around the yard again. I did toy with the idea of going in the school but I think I had enough excitement for one day, so we did some back up practice, which is improving rapidly.

While unsaddling I played with throwing the reins back and forwards over her head, even while she stood on the pedestal. Hardly any reaction from her now. We are getting there!

Plans? Not today.

I forgot to post about our play and ride on Saturday. Must be because I forgot to duck under a low branch round the woods and got bashed on the head . . . thankfully I always wear a helmet. I thought I might have whiplash it was such a thump!!

Anyway, the plan was play in the school saddled and then get on in the school and leave to go and ride in the woods. We played around the yard, saddled up and went in the school. My friend Sandra was having a lesson and two others were riding too so there wasn't much room for us. We tried to stay out of the way but got moved on by the Instructor. Actually B found it all just a little too much and went quiet and a little introverted so in between bouts of play we just chilled and did nothing. There is definitely something about her being in the school with others that she can't manage just yet. It's ok with Sandra and Bert but no one else. Interesting.

We stood and chatted a while with Sandra's instructor then left the school online and I got on at the mounting block. We mooched about the yard until Sandra was ready and headed for the woods. We turned left today and headed down the mile and 1/4 with B wanting to eat everything in sight. I only have to lift the line and she moves on so it was a game of eat and move on until I just started laughing because we didn't get very far. With that B stopped eating and we carried on.

It was a pretty uneventful ride despite my bang on the head. Even the renovation works didn't phase the horses too much. Luckily we got most of the way round before it started to rain. Just goes to show plans sometimes get changed especially with horses involved.

Learning not to shout!

I am constantly surprised by Breeze! Just when I think we have reached a threshold or tight spot in our relationship all of a sudden it progresses super fast!

Breeze is beginning to relax and allow me to groom her without nasty faces or impatiently walking off. Tonight I cleaned her feet out and all I had to do was point at each foot and she lifted it for me to pick out. Marvelous.

It was a lovely evening so B and I went to play in the school just as it was getting dark. I wanted to see what she would be like because last Friday we rode round the old woods at around the same time with Sandra and Bert and she was pretty tense.

I went with the intention of asking very little, very, very quietly. I remembered the L2 idea that you should hardly move the c/s at all. Guess what? Breeze was happy, calm and our circle game was incredibly good. Looks like I have been shouting at her for a while. Doh!

Sandra and Bert came in the school and I didn't notice until Sandra smacked the ground with her c/s and B was off like a rocket lol.

We had a great time and I think I have made my face ache from grinning. I wanted to get on so much despite no saddle or bb pad. I lined B up while I stood on a jump side and practiced asking her to side pass to me. She got very unconfident doing this so I decided getting on was not a good idea after all. B needed to move her feet! It was getting dark and the lights in the

school leave weird shady areas. She did some falling leaf and weave. We ended the session when she asked to come in after some lovely circle game in trot which was very calm and she maintained gait both ways.

We have been playing yo yo game a lot over the last few days. In and out of her stable, on the way to the field and this morning I successfully threw the rope over B's head and back again without her throwing her head up in horror. I noticed porky game anywhere on her head was not too good so we have done a fair bit of that too. She gave me sideways down the runway to the field this morning and her back up when I open the gate is much better too.

We have been lucky enough to get a free lesson booked with a new L1 instructor Claire Burgess in a few Saturday's time! Just when I had explained to her that circle game was a little broken. It doesn't matter, eh? I am sure we will have a great time and we will all learn a lot.

Three B's.

We have had a very interesting day today! Firstly the horse that showed up today was hormonal Breeze. It appears she is in season again and only has eyes for Brown Bertie. We went for a graze around that yard and BB (Brown Bertie) was turned out in the school. B spent a lot of the time squirting him and then eating grass. So I played 'go and eat here' and was very particular about where she went. Nice to know and reassuring that she will listen and be a partner even tho she is governed by her hormones.

I tied B up outside her stable as usual and did some chores. She backed into her stable while I went to get water buckets filled. I came back and was just lifting the bucket from my wheelbarrow, when B pulled back on her line and it had caught on the bottom bit of the door latch. She freaked of course but it was too tight to undo the daisy chain and it seemed to take ages to undo and free her! B had gone completely RB and reared up when I freed her from the pressure so I quickly asked her out of her stable and it was obvious she needed to move her feet. So we went for a fast trot together around the yard with some yield your HQ thrown in and wait by the arena gate for both of us to calm down.

In the arena I was careful not to bring her energy up any more but needed to warm up strong to ride soft so we did one and a half of the sides in sideways and then I played some more yield your HQ. Yo yo was pretty good and travelling circles were lovely but as usual she decided she couldn't circle if I stood still and started stop then to try and back up. This time I brought her in and played porky with her HQ having her circle very closely to me by holding the line v close to the snap and asking her to go around me until she was set up. Then I let the line out slowly to make the circles bigger. We then had very nice circle game in walk and trot with c.o.d and I finished it there.

Saddling up was fab! So was getting on. Nice! And there was Nicky all ready to come out with Sandra and I on BB. I found the sensation of riding a mare who is squirting her chosen paramour very odd. She did this once or twice during the ride. She tried to nap half heartedly before we left the yard but I guess because I don't argue with her she doesn't put much energy into it.

We had a great ride with some trot. B was pretty focussed on me considering BB was with us lol. She was a little tense and not really looking where she was going to begin with until she found the ground at the beginning of the mile and 1/4 a bit ouchy. Then she had to look where she was going a little more carefully. All three horses got a bit scared by the Viaduct as there is building work going on. Three 'Portacabins' have sprung up behind fences and lots of scary stuff. We respected their thresholds and it only took three goes of approach and retreat before the horses could go past. It occurs to me now perhaps next time I should ask B to turn away immediately she stops, instead of letting her stand for a while and it be her choice to turn? I don't know about that one.

I offered Sandra a small ride around the yard to see how different B is compared to Bertie. It was interesting for me to see how Sandra couldn't let the reins be loose as riding Parelli freestyle is radically different from micro managing the traditional way Sandra is used to. I took the lead line so Sandra felt B couldn't run away with her. I liked seeing how B responded to the slight lift of the reins to turn. Looks like I am teaching her well lol. That's always gratifying.

Oh and I have put a bit of baling twine higher up on her stable door now so we won't have yet another episode of line caught on latch. Phew. I am pretty stupid sometimes! Have I learned my lesson in safety now?

Horse time.

I went to sit in the field and watch the horses this eve. Chelsea came to stand over me, licking my head and asking for carrots lol.

Breeze came over and left a few times. It was obvious she wanted to stay out so I let her. Might as well while the weather is good. When winter comes they won't be allowed to stay out to save the grass.

She must have caught me half a dozen times which was very sweet.

We had a very interesting play this morning. I took B in the school without my c/s so that I could be more subtle and put less pressure on. On the circle game we dodged and weaved a bit playing fast c.o.d. but she soon blew up again and wanted to go backwards. I began by playing the let me help you game but then changed my mind. Instead I mirrored her and went back too and she immediately gave me two eyes, lowered her head and walked forwards with me.

Then I had the idea of walking a clover leaf pattern in one quarter of the school area. We did this all the way round clockwise, then anti clockwise. As soon as we started walking it Breeze began to blow out and relax. That done, we did a little bit of circle game which was calm and polite and ended it there. Plenty to think about there.

Then and now.

The lovely young lady who had B before me sent me some photos of B when she was on loan to the previous loaner or is it loanee. That sounds complicated, eh? I think I need someone to take some decent photos lol.