Where's a young man meant to look?

Today, I took Max in to the school for some long-lining. He was a real star again, I even got him on a smaller circle so that I could pretty much stay at a walk while he trotted around me. I've never been able to get him to do that before, but he's getting so good with his aids and directions, that we had a pretty good go at it today! I ended up cutting our session short because he was doing so well, and it's lots of concentrating for him when there are new things.

The reason for my not wanting to run after him on the lines in the school was that I was doing it, and my jeans fell down around me knees! I knew they were loose, but I didn't think they'd actually come down!

"Mum! I can see your arse! Good God! Cover yourself up before somebody sees you!"

Peeing it down with rain this afternoon and this evening. It's meant to be a nice day tomorrow and then rainy again after that. Too bad it's not a day for riding Max, because I'm doing six hours on the yard. Still, I think I'd rather be working in dry sunny weather than in pouring rain, which is what Sunday will be.

Loving the lovelies

I love the days when I don't rush and just have time to be with the horses and love them. Such amazing creatures, and so generous. They all know me so well now, and I love the way they rush to their doors when I come by, with the whuffles. Man, I love the way those nostrils vibrate when they do the quiet whuffles!

To just stand quietly by these amazing, strong, graceful creatures, and have them bend their heads in, gently nudge, play with my hair, fumble with my pockets in case there's anything good in there (they don't seem to mind if there is or isn't, as long as I have a scratch and a kind word for them). It's an amazing way to spend my time, and I wouldn't part with it for a moment. They give me a lot more than I give them, I reckon.

Max was so locked this morning on his right side, it took me ages to pick out the right hind hoof, and I was really worrying about him. Not in a "this is a new, bad thing" way, but just because I hate to see that leg elevated and sticking straight out in such an unnatural way. He was fine once he got going though.

Hacked out accompanied today. The beauty thing about walking along calmly behind is it gave me lots of time to experiment and pay attention to my position, and what reaction I got from little shifts. So it was a working hack for me and Max, even though we didn't get up to much.

So helpful to just sit back and try things, and watch Max's ears swivel back, or in some cases he even glances back at me, so I know what I'm doing is causing a reaction - or his pace changes slightly. I just need to keep doing it so I can keep track of what shift brings what reaction.

He was very relaxed through the whole thing again, mostly very responsive to me, and I'll chalk it up as a good day.

Time slip...

Today was a bit weird, in a losing time sort of way. I had my four hour shift, and I tentatively thought of long-lining Max when I was done, with the proviso that I know I'm usually too knackered after four hours mucking out, so I was equally prepared to do nothing.

Nothing is what I did in the end. I wasn't rushing through my work at all, I know (don't feel the need on a Wednesday), and I did stop for a chat with a couple of the owners, but when I finished up and checked my watch, it was almost half twelve! That's a whole hour longer than it usually takes me. I can't think where I lost an hour!

So no work for Max, but that's OK. I went off to do the grocery shopping, and stopped back at the yard just now to put his rug on and get him ready for the field, with some cuddles and a polo.

Actually, I think my downfall today was spending a lot of time loving the lovelies.
That's no bad thing. Lots of chats and scratches, and they were all being particularly adorable and friendly today, so if that takes an hour extra of my time, it is time well spent. I was ages with Glamour Girl this morning, come to think of it. She's such an affectionate mare, gives you little nuzzles and seems to really enjoy being hugged.

Ta Da!

Max was absolutely bloomin' brilliant! I am so proud of him I could just about burst.

I took him out alone, in hand but saddled up, for a hack. We walked for about a mile down the lane, and then I mounted up and turned back towards home, but we made a few detours, through a rolling field (we trotted along the edge, up a hill and then along the top) then along "the triangle" a bridleway that takes us back towards the yard.

He didn't put a foot wrong. No planting, no spinning, no spooking (not even when a pheasant came out from under the hedge) and barely any feeling of anxiety in him at all. We didn't break any landspeed records, but who cares about that? I didn't need to urge him forward once, he just kept going, ears pricked, but feeling really steady and fairly relaxed.

I let him stop a couple of times for a munch, and I also click treated him for standing when asked a couple of times. Lots & lots of praise, too - had to tell myself to shut up a couple of times because I was blathering on at him so much. So delighted with him though!

Sure, it wasn't the most challenging of hacks, and I guess we were only out on our own for about an hour or so, but after all the struggling we've had out and about lately, I couldn't have asked for more from him. Absolute diamond, my boy!

So we leave that alone, don't touch! Tomorrow we'll do something completely different in the school. I'll decide in the moment.

Follow my leader

I rode Max out with the Ent leading on foot. The idea was that the Ent was going for a run (sounds positively hasty, doesn't it?), so we'd follow on the lane as far as the
Wood, then the Ent would carry on with his run, and Max and I would turn for home all by ourselves.

Mainly Max was good, though we had a bit of spinning for home. Got in to a real tangle a couple of times on the way back, but I managed to get him forward both times (at trot, after lots of turning and taking runs at it).

Lots of praise when he did it, and click/treats, but man, we had words before that. He's not scared, this I know. He's happy to stick his head down and have a munch. So it was just a matter of firmness and intention on my part, and absolutely no finesse whatsoever! Argh!

I'm happy with the result, but not how I got it. I need to be able to rely a lot more on my seat, and at this point, I just can't. He needs that from me, too, because that's what will give him confidence.

So tomorrow... not sure. Maybe ground work again so we can regain our composure. Don't mean to give the idea that it was totally hellacious, because it wasn't, but we are much more dignified when we are both on the ground at this point!

High Jinx

Max and I went out for a long walk (about an hour and a half) with the Ent leading most of the way, and me behind getting that hind end swinging. It was fairly uneventful until Max started getting a bit full of himself, dragged the Ent through some bushes, up a bank, then became a bit of a whirling dervish. I took over in the lead then, with Ent looking quite shocked at just how powerful a sweet little pony can be!

"He pushed me over and stood on my foot!"

"Really? Shocking behaviour, Max!"

The uplifting thing about it was I can remember when Max did all that to me on a regular basis. I took his reins from the Ent and the monkey boy pretty much snapped to attention.

"Uh oh! Play time's over. Hi mum."

"Hello darling. Were you playing up a bit?"

"No, I was just... um... polo?"

"No, no polos for manhandling the Man. Look sharp, let's go!"

"OK. Polo later?"

"Yes, later."

Did me proud, he did.

Although I wasn't happy to see him being such a punk with the Ent, it was high spirits and confidence that did it, which in a way was good, for him to feel so playful and secure out in the world with just we two humans for company. He tried it on with the Ent because he's an opportunist and saw his chance! No malice in it.

Lord of the Dance

Clear bright day here, today, but getting cooler. Tomorrow night below 0, they say. Brrr for Mr Max.

We went out for a long walk today, and Max was all on his tippy-toes, being scared of stuff. But we got round all right.

Then we got back to the yard, and Max didn't notice that A was sitting in her car with the door open. She stepped out and he just about collapsed in fright! All his little hooves doin' The Riverdance!

Poor little man! He regained his composure quickly enough, but I was laughin' at him, while A was apologising to him.

A horse in the hand...

What a mostly beautiful day today. I had four hours of yard work which was pretty pleasant, really. The boxes are a mess because it's been raining so much (I think water just seeps in through the breezeblock and bricks) but I didn't feel rushed, so just took my time and enjoyed it.

I had already decided not to do anything with Max - I'm just too knackered after four hours, but we had an hour long grooming session in the sun, which was fine by both of us.

I bought some baby bath sponges a couple of days ago. I tried one bit (I cut them up) on his undercarriage today with a bucket of hot water, and Max was much more amenable. Still got click treats for being good, but he seemed to accept it better, so it must just feel a bit nicer, I guess. Result! Well, at least for today, anyway.

We also did a lot of work on his mane and tail, because he was a burr bush when he came in this morning. Put in more conditioner, because it really helps to slide them out, and keep them from sticking so much for a few days.

I was telling another owner about a friend's success with her horse and his former fear of clippers, and she was intrigued to hear it. Last time her horse was clipped it took three injections of sedation and the vet had to stay there on stand-by. Added complications because sedation tends to make horses sweat, and sweating doesn't mix well with clipping.

Anyway, she said wistfully that she wished she'd done more clicker training and ground work with her horse over the summer, and I said, "But you could still do it now, even if you decide not to clip him this winter. It's worth having a go to see if it makes it any easier for him."

Don't know if I convinced her or not, but yes, it's not all about hacks, is it? I know, "make hay while the sun shines" and all that, but I guess I just find the ground work and clicker stuff a lot more fascinating than some others do. I just love watching Max's eyes and face as he's trying to work something out, and I think the time we spend together doing work on the ground is more valuable, more satisfying, than the riding stuff. Though I love riding too.

We're fine at the moment working on transitions, but I'd love to work on more stuff to get his body bending and his brain thinking. I just love the in-hand stuff! The more I do it, the more I love it. Could be my "thing" maybe, but I need to find some direction.

A lot of the lovelies at our yard are unusually het up, so it could be the change of seasons or something. I think they do pick up on that stuff in a way we perhaps don't understand. It may even call to something fairly primal in them, hard weather coming and how to prepare for it in "survival" mode, so if there is no "survival" necessary because they know all their stuff is looked after, extra energy has to go somewhere.

Hmm... interesting to think about. My dad and I are just in a e-mail conversation about observations of the natural world and what we can learn from it. I know lots of people enjoy people watching, but critter watching is more my thing. Yes, people are interesting too, but animals have such raw honesty about them, no hidden agenda or deception, they just are what they are, so it's intriguing to note the changes and try to work out why.

Early morning workout

Took Max into the indoor school early again this morning (about 8.45 am) for 40 minutes or so. This time we were doing in hand with his "Be Nice" head collar and he was ace! Really good on transitions, very attentive and playful, and quite brave when I held a big, stripy umbrella over his head.

And he found a dead rat. Nice one! Oh sure, he'll touch that, unprompted. I thought it was a bit of crumpled up paper until I got close enough to see what he was sniffing at.

We're having a problem with rats at the moment. There was a live one in one of my boxes on Sunday when I was trying to muck out. Actually moving straw around and stuff! Euw!

I really enjoy getting Max exercised early when I pretty much know we won't be interrupted. Then when the yard work is done, we can just have a big ol' grooming session and fuss, with nothing else to be getting on with.

Split shift

The weather was meant to be bad again, I figured there would be a queue for the indoor school when I finished work, so I mucked out two boxes, then took Max in for some schooling at about quarter to nine.

He was a complete prat! He's done so well schooling recently, but he had the wind up his tail and his own ideas. Going in to trot (either rein) he was head tossing and bucking like back in the old days at Cedars. "No I won't! No, you can't make me!"

I jumped off at one point just to check everything was sitting right with him and he wasn't pinched or uncomfy, but no, everything was fine.

Mounted up again and wahey! My rodeo pony was back, prancing, bucking, farting, then going perfectly for a bit, then not.

I think he's actually trying to go in to canter, but isn't quite sure how. Anyway, it used to make me feel really unsure and a bit scared when he did this stuff, but today I was just laughing at him as he snorted around, deciding to be scared of a cone. Took him up to it, asked him to touch, which he did, click/treat, and we were off again on two perfect circles of the school, and then "No! I protest! Want to go this way! Want to run!"

It may just have been high energy and high jinx from lots of wind and two rest days in a row. He hasn't had that for a while!

Braveheart

Was out on Max for about two hours today, following the Ent on a bike. We went to the next village Common, which was another new adventure for young Max. Along a few familiar paths at first, and then one right turn that took us away from the realm of all knowledge.

He was fairly good. Tried to turn for home a couple of times, got a little worked up when we met yard mate trotting along with his carriage, and when we finally got to the Common, he bellowed out one lone neigh. He was very keyed up by then, and it was like riding a coiled spring. Really on his toes, really tall underneath me, all front end and no back, like he'd shortened or something (and no, he wasn't poking his nose out, but he had his head right up - not evading the bit, either).

As we turned for home, I did think I was going to lose him. I wasn't worried about him peeling off, I was worried about spooking though, and he seemed pretty ripe for a sideways, backwards, circular leap/flip-out.

As soon as we got back to the path he knew, he started to relax, I could feel the tension easing out of him, and didn't have to hold him to me so much. Really nice to let him go - not that I was applying loads of pressure, I wasn't, but I certainly had him gathered with my hands. Felt like I was riding the whirlwind, even though we had only been trotting.

He trotted most of the way home then mainly in the lead, but not too far, and then had a big hose down because he was pretty wet, and all lathered up between his hinds. I think he could have gone further, he was not flagging in stamina at all, but he did seem pretty happy to be home.

His box is such a sun catcher, and it was so warm (for November!!) that I left his fleece off after the hosing to let him air dry. Was afraid he'd get all clammy, otherwise.

Am a little wary about fireworks tonight. We've found a few rockets in the bottom half of Max's field, which must have been let off from local gardens. I'm sure he's been through fireworks before though, and he's a fairly stout-hearted chap, really.

I guess I'll try to take him that way a few more times, with Ent, in hand, and with other horses, until it doesn't seem unfamiliar any more. Then we can ride it, or at least part of it, on our own. He'd had trouble with the path leading to the common before, because it's quite gravelly, but whether his feet are tougher, or the fallen leaves helped to soften it, he wasn't troubled this time.

Physio Day

Max had a visit from his friendly physio-therapist today. We were in the box with the door open, and Max was fine for ages, and then he just decided he'd had enough and walked out, pushing me along with him with his nose. I just laughed - he was so determined.

"OK, done now. Thanks very much, lady. Buh-bye!"

Physio-therapist didn't find anything too bad with him. His shoulders and hindquarters are coming on really well, and feels we may yet see him grow out of his stifle lock (she could make a lock happen with the right manipulation).

She asked me how worried I was about it and I said in the great scheme of things, it could be a lot worse. He's not lame with it, it doesn't bother him overmuch, so I'm aware & concerned, of course, but not worried. She asked about the vet and I said I'd have it checked again when vet was in for jabs, but I don't expect to be told anything I don't already know. She told me to be wary of suggestions to operate on them. I'll cross that bridge when I come to it, but an operation for Max is not something I want to contemplate at this stage.

Told me lots of downhill work which is the most likely place I'll see evidence of it happening out and about (which I can vouch for - if he locks anywhere, it's going downhill).

Gave me a bunch of massage exercises to loosen him up a bit before we go out, and help when we get back, too. She doesn't think he's fat or cresty, but she does think I don't want him to get bigger, because any more weight will inhibit the hinds and keep him struggling. She still thinks we might see withers, too. Don't know about that!