Field games part 2.

Strawberry became very insistent that B stay away from HER Star!

Star takes absolutely no notice as B calmly walks past. While Strawberry throws all her toys out of her pram.

I don't think B really cares about what Strawberry is telling her. She stares off into the distance as if to say 'whatever, yawn'.

Field games part 1.

I went out with B to the field after our ride today.

She grazed near me for a while then went off to join the herd.

Strawberry is very unhappy about B being friends with Star!

They all had a bit of a trot and canter around, arguing about who went where and with whom and some of the horses who were in the other field came to join in.

Big softie!

This morning I saddled B up, quite quickly and very nicely, and we went into the woods for a play and our first solo ride. I took these photos afterwards as she looked so content and relaxed.

We had an interesting play to the old woods. I asked for circle game by the wood yard. She couldn't maintain gait or stay on a circle and as I hadn't brought the c/s I used the end of the 22' line. At first she would explode but after some COD she settled and maintained gait and direction. Time to move on and we played weave and circle around trees along the way.

We were passed by a big ride from one of the local riding schools. I saw them coming and asked B to yield her HQ and backed her into the woods, a little off the track. She stayed calm until they had gone past and we moved on to the top of the old woods where I tied up the 22' line and asked her into position by the log. I got on more gracefully today! B stood for a while but then moved off so we practiced some one rein stop until I had sorted my ropes and stirrups out.

She wasn't exactly relaxed as we set off for home. She seemed quite bracey and not happy to weave or circle very much. We practiced some more lateral flexion and stopping which calmed her. We did some transitions from walk to trot and back down again which helps her to slow down and helps me preserve my confidence. Approach and retreat from the saddle lol! I remembered!

She stopped nicely to cross the side road, we took a few little detours in and out of trees along the way and pretty soon we were by the exit. I asked her to go past and she managed a little way then stopped and backed up. I asked her to wait which she did, so her reward was we left the woods. There seems to be no point in arguing with her about it, I learned that with Lizzie. It's not about making her go where I want her to. I want B to feel happy to want to go where I ask her in the future and having a battle of wills won't achieve that. We crossed the road and back to the courtyard where I asked her to do a little lateral flexion then yield her hindquarters. She seems a little unbalanced going to the right but she will get better at it, I am sure.

It took me more than two years to get this far when I had Lizzie. This time around it has taken a month with B! I have made such a lot of progress on my own confidence, it's amazing. Helping B along helps me focus too. I am loving this journey. Baby steps leading to bigger and bigger things.

Busy week.

I have been very busy at work this week so we haven't ridden much but played quite a bit and focused on a few things that B found difficult. She has learned not to tread on her rope and the one time she has done it lately (today) she stepped off it quite smartly.

We got all four feet on the pedestal for quite a while today although she has been able to do this briefly all week. In the school we have managed a lot of sideways . . . she offers this now. And sidepass over a barrel and poles but going to her left is easier than her right.
When B gets snotty sometimes or just plain not listening I have found COD in the circle game very helpful in settling her or getting her attention. B's falling leaf is lovely and we are getting faster. I have used the plastic bag on the c/s more and find it very helpful for being very light and gentle in asking. It feels very different from having the savvy string.

Today she was very expressive in her play and I could really describe it as play. I am really enjoying using more fluid body movements and suggestions. We seem to have taken a step back in the saddling though and she couldn't stand still. I managed to keep my cool and not get direct line but Breeze was not in a happy mood when we set off with Sandra and Bert for a walk then ride in the woods. I let her graze as much as she liked in between some sideways and weaving around trees. She was very happy to stand for me to get on at the logs at the top of the old woods, unfortunately not very gracefully. Seems we are both out of practice lol. I noticed B was unable to walk in a straight line, she is still unused to riding in a loose reined halter but she settles as we progress round the woods. It was quite windy today which made her a little spooky to the extent that she hopped sideways to avoid a puddle while we were trotting. I am learning to trust her not to go too far when she spooks and to help her feel safe with me.

Going all the way around the woods was great and we passed the exit without hesitation. At the first turn towards the old woods we turned and headed for home leaving Sandra and Bert to go around again. B was fine on her own which was great and we went home.

I rasped Breeze's feet again to day. It is getting easier and she is accepting it more easily. She seems quite comfortable most of the time although some stonier parts of the bridle path make her feet seem sensitive. But they aren't very long bits so I am not worrying too much yet.

Boy, oh boy! How interesting.

On the way to the field this morning Breeze and I had an impromptu play in the school. We did a little stick to me and falling leaf in trot, circle game and a quick jump, turn and face me. She walked by my side up the runway to the field and sauntered off slowly when I took the halter off.

The temperature was a lot cooler today so this evening I thought it would be fun to set the 'round pen' up and see what happens. I took two c/s to the pen, one with a savvy string, the other a plastic bag. Initially B was happy and eager to have a look. I used the plastic bag c/s and we played squeeze game through the gaps in the panels that I set up, then weave in and out. This went well until I asked her to come into the pen and just circle. At each opening she found a threshold and gave me COD. I let her do this to begin with but it obviously was too much pressure for her. Then suddenly she just switched off, head down, not blinking and staring at the ground. Oh oh I thought, she's gone introverted so I stood in neutral and left her alone. Didn't take her long to lift her head so I asked her in and we just chilled out and I stroked her and hung out with her and watched Sandra and Bert play.

It took quite a while for B to really come back to the here and now. I swapped the c/s for the savvy string one and we had a walk around the arena and then played some more outside the pen while Sandra and Bert were inside having a lot of fun. I can't always watch them but I hear Sandra giggling and laughing and praising Bert which makes me very happy.

Once Breeze was relaxed and looking at me with both eyes again she gave me sideways round the outside of the pen and then sideways towards me! Wow. So I decided to take her away from the pen as a reward and play in the rest of the arena, giving her a lot of time to relax and wait in-between and plenty of friendly game. Sideways without a fence diagonally then fig 8 around some cones, then weave from a distance. Then I got something I never managed with Lizzie and that was sideways along a pole!! I tried with a barrel but she couldn't get that. Either I asked the question wrong or the wrong question or it's just too much yet, but I am so thrilled we got the pole done! It took some time but I focused on being polite but persistent. I was smiling and laughing and could tell B was happy too. So nice to have that kind of feedback from her. She just looks so pleased with herself lol.

So we ended it there. The temperature was dropping a little more, the wind getting up and it was getting towards dusk. I looked at my watch and it was nearly 8.30! We had set up at 7!!

Breeze was very soft and cuddly back in her stable. I hung out with her for a while sitting on the floor. Breeze spent some time sniffing me and snuffling my neck which was very sweet. Then a quick groom. I try not to groom her all over, as yet she isn't too keen on some areas. I can touch her shoulders now, also her back and rump but nothing around the belly. That will come in time.

Round the woods

Sorry for the terrible photo but Breeze hasn't got the hang of a steady walk yet lol. (I suspect the camera on my new phone is nowhere near as good as the previous model). Yesterday was a pretty good day. Played with B on the ground in the woods and Sandra and Bert met us after their lesson. Breeze stood over the log while I got on which was excellent. We went around the old woods and home.

I had a great day at work and then back to the yard where I tried to delay the evening ride by going home to get my riding boots I had forgotten! Sandra was having none of it so I rode in my walking boots which was pretty nice.

To my great surprise we went all the way around the woods with Breeze alternating being confident and going in front to breathing fast and getting unconfident and asking Bert to lead. She is very curious about everything and not argumentative in the least. She just needs time to think about things sometimes.

This morning B didn't look rideable so we went for a play in the school with her saddle on before I got on. She is much less impulsive on the circle game now and no longer blows up. She also stops and comes in behind me which is quite funny so I stroke her, say thanks and send her out again.

Today she had her 'I am not listening to you and I will just run' head on. I let her trot for a while in traveling circles and then I stood still and asked her circle around me and then to change direction a few times. She is prone to making assumptions and tries to guess which way to go around. So I slowed it down and sent her to the end of the 22' line, wait and then ask for the direction I want and back it up with the c/s. Nice snappy send. I made the COD's shorter each time so it was just a 1/4 of a circle and in no time at all her head came down and she blew out, her expression softened and she could walk. We ended it there.

She stood completely still for me to get on from my steps and didn't walk off so we had a nice chill out and waited for Sandra to get on Bert and off we went. . . . . twice around the woods! Left along the mile and 1/4, along the 'uppy downy' bit, then the viaduct, up the straight, left at the old woods, right along the viaduct and back again. We stopped where the old woods meets the straight and Breeze looked up the straight and I knew she was thinking 'but that's the way home'. After a short wait she carried on and we caught up with Sandra and Bert. On the 'uppy downy' bit we trotted but as B is taller than Liz was I kept banging my head on the overhead branches and I could feel B was getting unconfident which made her go faster and faster and me get unconfident too. So I one rein stopped her, bumping into Bert who acted as a block lol. Our roles are reversed these days. Lizzie and I used to do this for Sandra when she first got Bert.

We walked the rest of the way back along the mile and 1/4 with both horses snacking along the way. Breeze was totally relaxed while my thigh muscles screamed in protest! I got off with difficulty, you lose fitness in 5 months. We hosed the horses off . . . it was about 26c by then and let them graze around the yard for a while before going back to the stable.

Catching me.

I went to get B from the field as usual this eve and remembered to take a couple of photos. She spotted me a bit further away but I didn't get my phone ready quick enough.

Of course B always gets a carrot (or two) before I put the halter on. We walk back together and she waits for me to open the gates and to close them. Sometimes I ask her to turn and face me but that depends if there are other horses tied up by their stables directly opposite the gate.

The weather has turned hot and sticky. Too hot and sticky for me. I have spent most evenings this week with B until dark so tonight I gave her the evening off which seemed like a good idea as far as she was concerned.