Never a dull moment with B!

Can you see the sand?

We had the most interesting day today, Breeze and I. We moseyed about and she ate grass for ages before I saddled her up. We couldn't play in the school, there were three horses loose in there which is too many to play around.

B was relaxed and happy to be saddled, we did some pre-flight checks and I got on from a haylage bale in the yard. She was calm and happy as we left the yard without too many thresholds. Sandra and Bertie hadn't waited for us but gone ahead across the road without us.

Breeze and I crossed the road alone and into the woods without thresholds or B getting tense. This is a first!

We caught up with Sandra and Bert along the mile and 1/4 where B wanted to play eat and walk on most of the way. We carried ok until someone came up behind us. For some reason B hates it when another horse and rider comes up behind us. While this was happening Bert had a huge spook and turned towards us which made B feel tense and probably claustrophobic. We did some tight circles asking for lateral flexion then carried on when she was calm in trot to get some distance away from the other horse. Further on we let them pass us. We tried trotting again but B was tense and it was very choppy so we walked for a while.

All went nicely for a while until a jogger appeared which B thought was too scary. We had a discussion about it and I waited until she could be calm again with lots of praise and strokes. The logs had gone from the viaduct and B took the lead up the straight and we turned into the old woods. We trotted for a while until she wanted Bert to go in front. We tried trotting again but she was too tense so I asked her to walk again until we reached near the top.

The ground is very sloppy and wet which the horses found hard going. We came across a fallen tree which Bert stepped over easily. B couldn't do it and got a bit unhappy because Bert was the other side. We did some approach and retreat and unexpectedly a man came up behind waving at us. This was too much for B who jumped the log with me almost hanging off one side! Phew! This is the first time we have jumped anything together...I must learn to relax more, especially if B is going to jump diagonally!

B offered trot at the top of the old woods which was nice to begin with but she got a bit RB and headed into the trees. I am so glad I wear a helmet I thought, as we crashed through the branches until I could grab one rein and stop her. I asked her to weave in and out of the trees along the way home which calmed her until we got near to the pub car park. Some kids were shouting up in the play area. B doesn't like shouting and I felt her tense as we passed them and left the bridle path.

Sandra got off to cross and we followed. The I had the bright idea to go into the school just like we did last week. Breeze was ok with that and we squeezed past the open gate and did a circle near the gate. I left B alone to rest and gave her a bit of carrot. I asked her to move again and she circled again to go back to the gate, sniffing the ground as we went. Then to my surprise I felt her drop to her knees and suddenly realised she was going to roll!

I managed to get my legs free before she hit the ground and threw myself away from her and lay there laughing as she rolled over. A few people were standing near enough to see and one called out to ask if I was ok. I shouting thanks as best I could while still laughing.

B looked surprised to see me standing in front of her when she got up. I didn't get back on but gave her a hug and we walked back to her stable to take the saddle off and a groom. I am so glad I have a soft treeless saddle that didn't get damaged lol.

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.

My confident little RBI.

My brain hurts! I think B's does too. We had another lesson with Claire today and it was even more incredible than our last. I knew B and I had made big leaps in our relationship but again, to have someone else see it, is priceless.

B and I went in the arena before Claire arrived to warm up. I let another horse be put in the arena while their stable was mucked out. It was AJ who has watched us (at a distance) before but was too busy calling to the herd out in the field to be bothered by us.

I took things really slow to ease B into our games. We did all the things slowly that she likes. Yo yo over a pole and some sideways and we just walked around playing put your nose on this. I got a yellow base from our round pen for her to sniff. We played circle game and it was going well until I felt B had stopped behind me. When I turned around she had put her feet on the yellow base and just looking at me expectantly lol. She cracks me up!

While we played AJ was getting more RB, tearing up and down almost screaming at the herd! Then he suddenly turned and charged at us! I stood in front of B and when he was near I smacked the ground with the savvy string on my c/s, protecting our herd of two. Breeze stayed calm and AJ abruptly about faced and went away. He tried it again a little while later and I did the same thing. Breeze looked at me with what I think was great respect, she certainly had a good look on her face. AJ went and stood back across the arena and left us alone after that.

Claire arrived and we got on with the session. I hope I am not becoming predictable and boring but I am stunned by Claire's praise of both how well B looks and how confident B has become. Claire said she looks like a totally different horse. Calm, confident and looking to me for leadership!

My timing was spot on and our play was fluid and fun. We had fig 8 around the barrels, trot one way, walk the other then did it in the other direction. Weave was good but I tend to rush her at the end and she gets unconfident. Claire suggested I slow right down when she shows me she can't do these turns. I guess I get RB and excited too lol.

Claire has set us some tasks. One of which is improving our draw by asking B to jump over a jump and trot to me. We tried this and it was ok her coming to me but she couldn't back over the jump. I will have to start low and gradually raise the pole to a jump height. Also play with yo yo right up to things in zone 5. Breeze gets very claustrophobic in z5. The other is to practice driving game in z5 with the fence the other side of B. At the end of the session we tried this and lo and behold it was too much pressure for B and she couldn't stay straight. She had to peel off away from the fence, circle and come back to me.

Half way through our lesson one of the horses let himself out of the runway and into the yard to go and eat everyones feed. This horse is always getting out and instead of calling the yard owner (?) I just left B with Claire and went and got him. He is a stubborn LBI and knows how to get his own way lol. He managed to squeeze me against a wall at one point but I stepped away, got my 12' line, hooked it on to his webbing halter and with a bit of persuasion got him back into the runway using a bucket of feed as a lure. The other times this has happened I have used the halter too and he doesn't argue with me then. All the time B watched me, she couldn't take her eyes off me! When I got back in the arena she wanted to be near me and lick my hands.

By the end of the session Breeze looked like she had certainly given her brain cells a workout! She yawned and yawned, licked and chewed and looked like she needed a nap. We went back to her stable and I let her rest and eat some haylage before she went out to the field for the rest of the day. It's incredible how one hour can feel like longer in the best possible way.

Wow! Breakthrough!!

After a bit of a frosty night the sun shone brilliantly today. We had a short but lovely play in the arena. Getting on was superb. I couldn't ask for better especially as others were getting on around us and I could here the clattering of hooves as these horses couldn't stand still. B ignored them and we did our thing quietly and politely.

We had a slight hesitation leaving the yard but B quickly decided she wanted to lead. Might be because we followed on behind three others and B got a bit emotional and wanted to catch them up. So we did some lateral flexion and circles and she soon forgot about them and got on with stuffing her face with bramble leaves. Sandra and I decided to let the horses eat for a while so that we got more distance between us and the others.

We were told a tree was down on the mile and 1/4 so we thought we would just head on down there via the straight and see if we had to turn around. We met a Land Rover parked up and passed without incident although B did stop and have a look. B was happy to plod along for a while and asked to turn into the old woods. I asked her to carry on and she did without getting snotty. She got a scratch and lots of praise for that. We went past the scary logs as if they weren't there! Woohoo! B got a bit emotional from then on and I got frustrated by being scraped and scratched by bushes because she insisted on trying to side step puddles. I realised I wasn't really helping her, sitting there being annoyed! My brain finally kicked in and we did some zig zag and not surprisingly this calmed B down.

The ground was very slippery and muddy so we walked most of the way until the last bit of the mile and 1/4. Breeze and I took the lead and had a trot which became a bit difficult for me when B decided to dodge some puddles. I had to really concentrate on staying with her lol. The exit was coming up fast so I focussed on going past. Although B hesitated she did trot past the exit so I asked her to stop and gave her a treat. Marvelous. Sandra was behind us, turned for home and we followed. We crossed the road together and I headed for the arena.

I don't know what made me think of the arena lol. The gate was shut and three others were in there. Two being led and one having a lesson. Despite this, we got the gate open and someone kindly shut it for us. We were in! Breeze showed no signs of tension at all. Such a difference from when I first got her. It's been nine months since we really went into the arena to ride with a purpose. We have been in for a treat and a rest but that's all other than playing online.

Today was so different. We went to the middle where all the jump sides, cones and poles were and waited so that B could rest and get the feel of things. We did a little circling, fig 8 around jump sides and some yo yo between cones. Each time B did as I asked I let her rest and gave her a treat. She loved it! So did I! A happy, willing horse who showed no sign of the stress she showed previously. (What a contrast to the lesson going on around us, I only heard snippets and was glad Breeze and I don't do that! None of my business lol).

I don't know how long we were there. Who cares! We did a few things, had lots of rests and then before she could get bored or tense I asked her to trot to the gate, we opened it and left the arena! I tried to shut the gate but realised we haven't done this on the ground so that's something to work on now.

I am ecstatically happy! I am also shocked and surprised that we really did it. I have wanted this so much and been both too terrified and worried to even think about it. Both Lizzie and it seems, Breeze, had baggage from previous lives and showed me in no uncertain terms that 'schooling' was not fun.

It looks like I have taken the time it takes and given Breeze a different experience that doesn't make her unhappy. There will be more! Freestyle and then ( a long way off!) Finesse, in due course! Doesn't get better than this, does it?

Balance.

I don't think I have ever ridden so much in one week! It's been brilliant too. I have had a totally horse filled holiday with nowhere else to be and no one else to please but myself and Breeze.

Today we played for quite a long time in the arena. Breeze jumped some pretty high jumps but it made her introverted. There was a lot of rest and hanging out in between, waiting for her to be back with me. She definitely isn't going anywhere near as deep inside herself. We had some great sideways at 22'...I think it might be time to get the 45' out now. We had some good fig 8 in trot but B decided to snake her head about and explode! It didn't appear to be unconfident RB fear based, just enthusiasm. Circle game was great with lots of trotting and c.o.d. in trot too.

Saddling up and getting on was, dare I say it, perfect. I do a lot of friendly game while putting the saddle on and a few judicious treats help too. I love the way Breeze gets up on the pedestal once the saddle is on which helps make sure the skin under the girth stays smooth lol. I love how she stands still for me to get on and doesn't walk off until I ask her to.

Leaving the yard wasn't totally happy. Breeze is still a little bracy but I let her stop and waited to ask her again. Despite this glitch B was the most relaxed I have ever known her to be. She wanted to eat and didn't care if Sandra and Bert disappeared out of sight. She didn't get stressed or want to catch up either. So we moseyed along stopping to eat, catching up with Sandra and Bert, walking together and chatting, all the way round the old woods.

Again we turned to go down the straight to visit the scary logs and again B didn't want to. Today was different 'tho because she was less tense and when I asked for her to turn round she was happy to turn calmly. I forget how many times we turned. It can't have been more than four, each time I asked her to move on and finally she did. So nice to be pleasant and light hearted about it. The horses were ok with the logs so we walked past and then turned for home up the straight.

B still felt calm so I asked for trot and although she didn't maintain gait, every time I asked again she trotted happily. She was balanced and smooth and in the lead all the way up despite wanting to look all around for danger lol. I am starting to really enjoy trotting now that she is less emotional about it! Hopefully at some point in the future I will be writing the same about canter!

Goat licking!

There is a very fat mini-goat called Tim (!) that lives on the yard. He gets to run around at liberty to try and lose weight. This was the first time B has set eyes on him and she was very curious and keen to meet him. Tim is very cute and is prone to going up on his back legs if you approach him too quickly lol. Breeze loved him and wanted to lick him for a long time lol.

We saddled up after a very good grooming session including cutting a good 7 inches from the end of B's tail. Breeze showed me all the ways she can get on the pedestals! She does make me giggle with her antics. Then we went into the arena for a quick pre-flight check.

Breeze was in a lovely playful mood and we didn't just play but almost danced together in falling leaf and HQ yields which melted into stick to me as we danced around the arena. All this on the 12' line of the hackamore and no c/s, with someone jumping and cantering around us.

Three of us went for a ride. B was a little hesitant about leaving the yard again. But I persevere and give her time to stop and think about it. The ground was soft and B decided she would lead the two geldings as soon as we got onto the bridle path, if you don't mind lol. She did get quite grumpy with the boys on and off the whole ride. Except of course when she felt unconfident and needed Bert or Coch to lead lol. Bertie did a huge spook when we all stopped suddenly because the horses spotted some golfers searching for their ball in the bushes. Humans bending down seems to really freak them out! We ended up squished together with the poor horses not knowing which way to turn. We all sat and waited for the horses to calm down, gather their thoughts and feel ready to carry on.

We had some great trots with B feeling very relaxed and balanced. I rather like being in the lead. I find it interesting to watch B's ears and see where she is focusing and how she feels. By the time we got past the golf club car park B was getting a little tense so Bert took over for a while. B decided she was ok and led again and then she was doing her annoying jigging so I asked for trot and it was still balanced and nice.

Along the viaduct the two geldings led, I knew B was getting ready for passing the logs and was tense. I kept a loose rein and then led the way to the old woods. Coch wanted to bomb off at the bottom of the straight but settled down. I decided to zig zag for most of the old woods to give B something other than spooking to think about. Doing this continues to help her be calm and probably me too. Then we got to weave the trees and I managed to bang my knee as we took one weave very tight.

As we got nearer the exit B needed the others to lead but she was nice and relaxed enough for me to take a photo or two. Then it was back on the yard and time for a little moseying. Breeze has decided we must always go and unsaddle by the new shed now. It might have something to do with there being carrots and apples there lol.

A ride with Jan and Cochise and the scary Morris Dancers.

I got to ride with Jan for the first time since getting breeze. I wasn't sure it would go ok because I didn't know how B would be with a horse we haven't ridden with before. We may have got into too familiar territory with Bert and Sandra and it's always good to mix it up! I wasn't worried about it, just aware that it might feel different.

It turned out Breeze was feeling very confident! We didn't warm up in the arena, there were horses in there and it was raining lightly so we went for a mosey around the yard. She was very LB so saddling up was quick and easy. We had a wander around the yard then met up with Jan and Coch and headed off over the road. It took some approach and retreat but B decided the minute we got into the woods that she would be lead horse today for most of the time.

Cochise is so like my old Lizzie, so laid back and typical LBI! We spent a lot of the ride stopping, the horses eating and waiting for each other lol. I let B choose where to go and it was around the old woods. We went along towards the viaduct to where the new pile of logs are that B is so worried about. It took some time for her to be able to go anywhere near them after some discussion about actually going to the viaduct! With a lot of circling and waiting she could eventually go near them to sniff them and guess what she did? Ate some bark!

Then it was turn for home and up the Straight. We did some zig zag then I asked for trot and we got a very even, balanced trot all the way to the top. Nice. I have found if anyone suggests trot I get nervous but if I don't pre-arrange it I can just ask B and we have nice trot with the option to go back to walk. So Sandra and I have made a decision. We won't ask, we will just trot and it's up to the other person if they want to follow or not. Cool!

Breeze got tense as we got to the exit...it being New Year's Day the local Morris Dancers were putting on a show in the pub car park. Breeze was happy to wait and let me watch for a while but after about 20 minutes she couldn't stand still and we asked to be let through during a break.

I am glad we did because they were just doing a play when we watched. A little while later, when I took B to have a look while they danced properly, including waving hankies, it was all too much for her!

What a great start to a new year. I cannot put into words fully how much I am enjoying being with Breeze. It feels like my savvy has grown hugely in the last few weeks and I am really starting to enjoy riding. I mean really enjoy, not just sigh with relief because I got through another ride with some idea of what I did, consciously. What a relief after all these years of fear and terror! I feel so lucky. So privileged. To be able to share my life with a horse called Breeze and have a partnership. Brilliant!