Oh, I geddit now...

It's been a week of lots of rain, work and not very much daylight. Breeze got very fed up with being out in the field getting wet. Each morning through the week she was less and less happy to go out so I gave her a day in yesterday. She does like her home comforts. This usually means I feel I should give her some exercise because much as she likes to be stuffing her face in her stable all day I believe she should move around a bit some of the time lol.We have had some great play sessions in the arena over the last two days. Particularly today when she seemed to really understand what was asked of her. It was very windy but it didn't seem to bother B which I think is marvelous. It did seem to give her more energy than usual which I took advantage of. Last night and this morning we got canter online. Good, controlled canter for a 1/4 lap so I asked her in, gave her treats and a rest and we went and did something else. Next time we circled she offered canter and we had a whole lap of nice calm canter!

This mornings session was one of those times when everything seems to gel. My usual inability to think of things to do has gone lately and we were very in tune with each other. I have found asking B to do the things she likes with something new dropped in really works. Today we got weave backwards around the cones and backwards by the tail too. She is getting the hang of jumping to me over a pole and she is trotting to me more often now.

Sandra had a lesson in the arena around us this morning and this evening someone else was riding too. It's great to see B is getting used to having others around her and doesn't go introverted so much now. Today she was a little bracy but I don't let her fight me now. Lydia's help on our sponsored ride last year has really stuck. I keep the pressure on the line and wait for B to soften and come to me. It doesn't take long and she soon stops trying. Change of direction seems to calm her too when she gets a little RB on circle game and also travelling circle.

This week we have been doing some mounting simulation at the mounting block which is coming on nicely. B can now stand still while I lean on her back. Oh and we have been doing some opening and closing of the gate together. This morning she objected as I asked her to go sideways with the gate as we shut it and bucked a little and kicked out. I let her rest and we tried again and pushed the gate shut together.

This evening was just as good after some time grazing around by the gate. We did the opening and closing the gate again and B was ok with that. I love the way B now looks at me as if to say I know this one! She just gets it now and looks at me, eager to do what I ask next. Brilliant.

Back in her stable, after doing all the things I do before I leave for the night, I decided to sit in with her and have some UDT. Sometimes, as Pat says, it's the time after doing something with your horse that is the most important. I don't like to just put B back in her stable and walk away, especially if we have had a particularly good session. Breeze often tells me she doesn't want me around by just getting on with eating her haylage. the last two nights she hasn't wanted me to go. Last night she stuck her head over her door, rested her cheek next to mine and stood still for ages for me to stroke her face. Every time I stopped she nudged me to do it again. It's hard to leave her at such times.

So, I sat on her upturned manger and relaxed. Breeze stood over me, her muzzle really close to my face. I could hear her breathing and my glasses kept fogging up as she exhaled. She nuzzled my hair and licked my hands a few times and in return I stroked her face a few times. I really try not to interact with her but she makes it very difficult for me not to lol. Especially when she has a drink and then comes back and dribbles water on my legs and hands! Sigh. Then she turned her butt towards me and tried to squish me against the wall!! I got up in a hurry, put the manger back and scratched her butt for a short while. Definitely time to go home.