Hot and bovvered

A dreary, still, sticky day today. Spots of rain now and again, but nothing untoward.

I took Max into the school for a bit of in hand work and we got on well. Some rather intense up close and personal stuff, coming forward and backing up with pressure and release, working towards me just leaning into him and away from him to get a response. He was coming along with that brilliantly, and though we're not ready to show off yet, it's something to continue working on.

We did a few turns in hand, too, changing paces and changing direction, and Max is very quick to follow me now, stays right at my shoulder and doesn't come into any pressure from the headcollar because he's right there with me, with only a slack line.

After that I let him out on one long ling and worked on a smaller circle, snaking a driving whip behind him and working him through walk, trot and back to walk and stand on voice command. It's sometimes difficult to get him to stay out on the end of the line in trot, but we worked on it and he was showing improvement towards the end. He even gave me a little bit of canter on both reins as well, which is promising.

We seem to be getting further on just one line now, rather than both lines long lining, but as I keep reminding myself, this stuff is all new for us, and if one line is what works, then we shall perfect there, and then move it up a notch when Max seems ready. I do like to mix things up a bit so he isn't doing the same thing every day. I just need to keep an eye on him and make sure he isn't overwhelmed or frustrated. Lots of praise for doing it right, quiet correction and no reprimand if he doesn't, and a keen eye on when he's had enough, so we can stop there and just have a little play together before leaving the school.

Lately it has felt like we've taken a few steps back in his schooling, but now I can see the potential for coming on again it is very rewarding and hopeful. I've made the mistake before of trying to move on too quickly because clever clogs seems to have picked things up so quickly, and I won't make that mistake again. Lots of repetitions of the same stuff until we can both do it smoothly.

It's me learning as much as Max, when it comes down to it.

Just say 'No!' to going green!

Max does NOT like garden waste bags. This is a new fact.

After a bit of work in the school this afternoon, riding in his Dually and pretty much letting him have his own run of things, we did our carrot stretches, and then wandered out to Max's field. I had a pear in my pocket as a parting gift.

I watched him drink slimy trough water with relish... This is something I've had to get over. I mind, Max doesn't. And it's not like he hasn't got plenty of clean water in his box, which he's also happy to drink. He won't go into that field without stopping for a drink of slime though, and then giving me a kiss when he's done. Yuck. Not just Max either, all four ponies that share his field do exactly the same thing.

Anyway, after wiping green slime off my cheek, I showed Max the pear and walked on ahead of him further into the field.

Max followed playfully, we stopped and he took a polite bite, and then all of a sudden he hopped up with his fronts, snorted, got big eyed and Arab necked. He started to trot away, then he came back (I was still holding the rest of the pear, after all).

I looked around to see what was troubling him, but could find nothing, until I looked in the next paddock and saw, against the fence, moving provocatively in the gusts of wind, a green garden waste bag, used for recycling... um... garden waste.

"I don't like it, I don't like it!" exclaimed Max, hopping foot to foot. "I HATE it! What is it? Get away from it. No! Go closer!"

I walked towards the bag, and Max followed behind me, all skittish and silly. He shook his head at it and snorted, then quickly ducked his head down for another pear bite, then a quick trot away with his tail up, back in a circle to come and stand with me again, then bravely approach the thing on his own.

"What is this fiendish device, eh? How did it come here?"

Max looked at the two ponies sharing the field with the bag, and saw that they were quite sensibly ignoring it. You could almost see him trying to work it out and determine the level of threat posed.

In the end, he decided the last pear bite was more important, and was content for me to leave him in his field despite the garden bag. He even escorted me back to the gate, and then, euw! had another drink of green slime.

"Mmmm! Fortifying!"

Max exacts payment...

A full day for me today, but not quite as full a I'd anticipated.

Thinking I wouldn't get a chance to see Max this afternoon, I zipped over to the yard in my office clobber to give him his marmite toast and just have a little fuss and check over to see all was well with him.

Got to the office, got through my work, and ended up leaving an hour before I thought I might, so decided to go back to the yard to cover Max with fly spray for the field this afternoon. I have an appointment, so won't be on yard duty, leaving no chance to groom and spray him in the afternoon.

There were a few good natured comments about me teetering about the yard in my open-toed kitten heels, skirt and linen blouse, wearing my mucking out gloves to skip out Max's box. Said I was thinking about giving it a bit of the ol' Lady Godiva - very cool with a skirt, much cooler with nowt at all!

Got into Max's box to start with the fly spray, but he was very intrigued by the skirt, which he could easily lift with his nose. And lift it he did!

"Max!" I exclaimed. "How rude! Get off!"

YO laughed and said after all the times I've given Max's undercarriage too much attention for his liking, he was just claiming his revenge.

Gotta love a pony with a good humoured sense of justice.

Sunday is bath day

Max spent a good deal of his time today with his face frozen into a look of shocked indignation. Yes, bath day has come again.

Before the bath though, we went out for a bitless hack, with the Ent leading and carrying a spare lead rope just in case.

Max was very responsive in all situations when he chose to be. I could walk him straight, I could turn him around, I could serpentine him down the lane with a squeeze of the reins and a shift of weight, just like I can with his bit. But when it came to when what Max chose to do and what I chose to do parted company, well, there we had a spot of bother.

He didn't tank off with me. We attempted a canter and Max immediately veered off my intended route and selected one of his own, cutting a swathe diagonally through a stubble field, quite determined to take a short cut.

Brakes were not a problem, he did stop when I asked. Turning back to our starting point, well, Max was less inclined to acquiesce on that point.

As I commented to the watching Ent, I wouldn't want to be hacking Max bitless on our own just yet. Fair dues though, we've only been working this way for two weeks or so, and this is only the second time I've ridden him in it, so there's a lot to be said for the changes that will be accomplished with more concentrated schooling.

I do love the look of him with no bit in his mouth though. It feels right to me, so we will continue to pursue bitless riding.

Back to the yard for his bath. You would have thought cold water on a hot day would have been a relief, but not a bit of it, although he did like drinking from the hose.

After an initial dousing, me holding him and the Ent gently hosing him down, I soaped him up and gave him a scrub with the sponge (which he did seem to enjoy), swirled his tail through soapy water, and then the Ent rinsed him off and scraped him to get off the excess water. Judging by colour of the water scraped away, Max could have done with a second wash, but it didn't seem fair to put him through it again.

Back into his box for his lunch time hay and a few carrot stretches, and all was well with Max's world once more.

Fast food

Another hard day at the yard, slogging through the mucking out in the heat, but hurrah! the last Saturday of the month, which means I only do the morning shift on the yard, and have the afternoon off.

I left just before noon, telling Max I'd be back in an hour or so, after a shower and lunch, and we'd spend some time together then. We shared my energising banana. Max loves him some banana! I had brought him a cherry tomato to try again, too, but he was not impressed. Squished all the goodness out of it, nodded in surprise, and then spit out the skin.

I got back after a fortifying sandwich, and took Max out of his box for a proper grooming and love up session, going for all his itchy spots. Rubbed the tips of his ears, which sent him all dopey and sleepy, and then had a chat with him about how we'd spend our time.

Decided to try longlining him in the paddock, and got him out there under the blazing sun, full of determination. Longlining in the school just wasn't on; it's just too hot and dusty for that to be any fun.

It didn't go well. Max started off gamely enough, but he was far too tempted by the grass, and tried to get his head down at every moment.

I had him on the Dually with long lines, and his extra head collar line to encourage him along.

He wasn't having it! Got him into trot, and he was just head down, snatching as he went.

"Head up, Max!" I encouraged.

"Make me."

I flailed the rope about gamely, snaking it behind him, whooping it along the ground in a skipping rope motion to no avail. He kept and eye on me all right, but a calculated eye. "How long will it take her to get to me, and how much can I cram in my gob before she does?"

Yes, frustrating because I knew I could get no good work out of him, but helpless to correct him with feeble lines and me laughing.

I then attempted taking one line off and trying to direct him that way, but it was no good. Gathered him up and said "Right, sir. A walk out, I think."

Left the pad and roller on, stopped briefly at the yard to drop off the longlines, and then out went into the world, in hand. I saw it as exercise, Max saw it as a moving feast.

We got there in the end though. A nice long walk, a big ol' trot for home, and we managed to work up a bit of a sweat, the two of us. Had a rider returning from a hack behind us, and when we got back to the yard she said "I' can't believe you ran all that way in this weather. I could barely sit in the saddle with this heat!"

Now we get back to the amazing things one can achieve with clicker training. Historically, Max has not coped well with fly spray. I've been cautious and careful, spraying fly spray onto a brush and then brushing him with it. Over the past week though, I've been spraying and clicking, gently, slowly, and we have reached the point where he will stand still, whether tied up outside, or in his box, and allow me to do that, then offer me his other side to do, too. He has a problem with his neck and chest being done, still, but we're getting round that.

So today, when he was all sweaty, I tried it with the hose. Hosed him down, clicking loads and then pausing to offer a reward, and we're getting somewhere with that now. Enough for me to think that tomorrow is proper bath day.

I am hoping, with Ent accompanying us, to take Max out for a ridden hack in his Dually, with Ent on stand-by with a lead rope. We'll see how we go, and if things get silly, Ent can clip the lead rope in and we'll carry on. I may look like a child on a pony ride, but I'm not bothered about that. It's all about building up Max's confidence and response to the pressure and release, and at least on a hack, I don't have to be quite so concerned about my wonky back misdirecting him. I can always hop off, too, if it really isn't going well.

So that, and bath day tomorrow. Bumper day for Mr Max. He won't like it, but he'll feel loads better after it's done.

Show jumper? No jumper.

The end of a long and tiring week, feeling like Max and I hadn't spent much quality time together. So today, along with a little schooling, we had a play day, and play involved teeny tiny little jumps.

They were already set up, they were already low, so I took Max over to have a look see. He knocked the first one down with his nose, and then proceeded to the second and cuffed that one down, too.

OK, so trot poles then. I thought that would be a good way to build him up to it.

Off we went, gamely going over the trot poles, then Max waited patiently in the centre of the school, and I re-arranged the jumps, set them up very low, added a walkway of poles leading towards the jump to discourage Max ducking out, and we gave it a go.

Well, I jumped and Max just barrelled through, with a look of confusion.

"Eh? Jump? Why?"

The poles are very light, so they knock down easily and there is no danger of hard knocks to pony legs.

I have seen Max jump before. Loose schooled him over jumps many moons ago, and he jumped really high, leaving lots of room for clearance, so I know he can do it. He just didn't choose to, this time.

Not sure how much I'll press it. I will try again from time to time, and if Max seems to enjoy it, then we'll add it into our mix of things to do. I'm not bothered if we do or don't, although it's taken me ages to admit it.

Jumping has never been my thing, but for some reason, back in the old riding school days, all lessons lead to jumping. I never really enjoyed it. I did a mini-cross country course once (just for fun) on a pony I loved and that was exhilarating (especially the drop jump!) but for all the years of jumping from cavaletti to 5'0 poles and 3.0' spreads, it was generally something I did because I didn't feel I could say no to my instructor.

I can say no now though. If a ditch or a fallen log happens to be across our path and I think that Max can handle it, then sure, we'll pop over it, but we won't be seeking such obstacles out. I'm not afraid of jumping, I just don't like it.

Is it fair on Max? Is he hankering to leap over hedges and fences? Apparently not.

A horsefly with no name...

... had Max's card marked this afternoon. Nothing kept the tenacious little beastie away and we cut our walk short as a result because Max was livid!

"Get it off! Off I say! Ow!"

He was stamping and swishing his tail, I was in there with the schooling whip shooing the thing away, but it would always alight again. No other insect came near, and no other horsefly either, just this one. It was relentless. Like The Terminator.

So we turned for home, had an easy trot down the lane, and stopped to chat to a very sweet little girl and her older brother. The big brother was indulging his sister's passionate wish to "talk to the horses". Big brothers are good like that.

"Excuse me," she called, as we trotted towards them, "Can I pet your horse, please?"

I looked at that grinning, earnest face and remembered being that eager little girl who only wanted to talk to the horses. Any horses.

"Of course you can!" What else would I say?

She and her brother approached and she chattered away about the different horses on the yard, told me all the names she had memorised, which horse stayed in which field with which other horse, and the fact that she had seen Max before when she was walking home from school, talking faster and faster, her smile getting wider as she stroked Max's nose and looked only at him.

Max was a perfect gent, bowed his head down low for her to easily reach, and didn't make one false move - I was watching him like a hawk!

There are so many horses I remember from my childhood, some I only met once. Maybe one day this little girl will look back to a bright afternoon from her childhood and remember Max.

Because you're mine, I walk the line(s)

Our first attempt at al fresco longlining was a success! Not that we did anything fancy. At all.

Collected Max from his field in the early afternoon, and he and Ent spent a little time warming up in the indoor school, just reinforcing what they learned about each other last weekend.

Then I put on the roller and the lines, and out we went. Pretty simple strategy, really. Ent in front with a slack lead rope, me behind with two lines and a bit of flicking him on from a shamble to a walk. We mainly stayed on the lane, but went up one farm track, down one rutted hill (Max tripped a lot) and then back onto the lane and turned for home.

The only incident was the result of a menacing heap of brambly branches, which posed an obvious threat that the Ent and I were too obtuse to notice. So Max alerted us by leaping about and Riverdancing, whilst looking back over his shoulder in wide eyed terror to see if the branchy heap was in pursuit.

It wasn't.

After collecting him, we took him over to have a look at it. Gave him an excellent opportunity to get his head down and have a sneaky graze of the grass right next to the terrifying twig monster.

A couple of little trots home, and we were done. Not something we can attempt on our own yet, "long-roaming", but another thing to build upon.

Bitless Gitless Riding

Long day at the yard today and here we are at the end of it, my back pretty much in spasm now. I crouched down to go under a chain to check on a horse in her box this afternoon and said, "Hmm, I think I'll have to stay the night with you here , lovely. Don't mind, do you?" Wasn't sure I'd be able to get back up again.

I think it was cleaning the water trough this morning that finally did me in. It needed doing, I had time to do it, and so I did it. Not my brightest plan. The removal of algae with a scrubbing brush wasn't too bad, but lifting the empty trough back onto the cinder blocks was my downfall. It's always awkward, but today I just couldn't manage. Rather than give up and wait for someone to help, I scolded myself to stop being a girl and put my back into it. I did, and my back went into it and just stayed there.

After the morning's yard work, I had a couple of hours to recuperate, and decided that rather than languish at home, I'd take a short lunch break and go back to the yard and do a little session with Max before the afternoon shift started. Nothing fancy, but I'm conscious that he's not getting enough exercise and I wanted to try ridden work with the Dually, just to see how we'd go.

I explained to Max, as I saddled him up, that we weren't going to do much at all, just see how the pressure and release works with no bit in his mouth to contend with.

Off to the indoor school we went, and I mounted up, gingerly. Max, having had a few sessions of standing at the mounting block and not moving off, showed me he'd learned well and stood stock still, remaining so until I gave him a quiet "walk on".

We were only at it for about 25 minutes or so, mostly in walk with a little bit of trotting thrown in. Max responded beautifully! No fuss, no confusion, he turned, stopped and even reined back as if nothing was any different.

On trotting down the long side of the school on the right rein, we had our familiar problem of him turning in, or at the very least "looking" to the centre rather than ahead on the track, but that did not surprise me. That action from him is a response to my wonky back and I can't fault him for it. My balance, my skewed seat bones, and therefore my skewed weight distribution, tells him I want to turn in, even though my head and hands are telling him to go forward.

That's for me to sort out, not Max. Basically, he's giving me the correct response for what I'm accidentally asking him to do.

I'm glad we gave it a try. We're not ready to go out on a bitless hack, but from today's willing performance from Max, I'm sure that one day we'll be able to do just that.

Tomorrow, if the weather holds and the Ent is willing, I hope to take Max out and about in his long-lines, me "driving", and Ent walking ahead, possibly with another lead rope on the "neutral" ring of the Dually, just in case. I think it will be a good way to ease Max in to a new experience with the long lines, and I'll feel more confident that we're safe to do so with the Ent leading the way to boost Max's confidence and take over if things get tricky.

As I finished my afternoon shift, I glanced from the yard over to Max's field, and watched him having a roll in the sunshine, tail twirling like a propeller. It was a lovely thing to watch from afar, my boy just being a contented horse doing horse stuff. He has a happy life, and that's all I've ever wanted for him.

The pressure I sometimes feel (from where?) that we should be doing more, further advanced, fades away when I watch him being Maxo Relaxo. He is willing to try whatever I ask of him, and then is happy to trundle off and be a horse, content in the knowledge that he is cared for, he wants to nothing, and his world, as far as he knows it, is a safe and pleasant place to be.

Sometimes the responsibility of having a horse in my life is so overwhelming it almost chokes me - why aren't I better? why don't I know more? what could Max do in the hands of someone more able and experienced? But does Max really care about any of that? Is he stamping his sweet little feet demanding to go to a show?

"I must and SHALL have a rosette! I really want to go on an endurance ride! Why aren't we jumping over fences, eh?"

Is he hankering after a life that I don't give him?

I don't think so. I think Max is happy with his lot. He's got a pretty good deal. He's well looked after, he's got a comfy box to live in during the day, a good field and field mates at night, and yes, he gets dragged out now and again for "work", but it's not taxing work and we generally find something to have a laugh about along the way.

He doesn't want more than that. He is a pony of simple needs, he knows his sense of humour is appreciated, and his grumps are accepted, just as he accepts mine.

I was overheard leaving Max's box this morning and sighing, to the world in general, "I heart my pony!"

It's true, I shamelessly do heart my pony. For all my wanting what's best for him and worrying about where I fall short, I think that I have to accept that Max doesn't have any concerns about what's best for him. He's happy right where he is, and I'm happy with him right where he is, too.

Rain back? Oh yes. Rein back? Oh yes!

A bit cool today, and heavy rain again during the morning, settling down to grey, cool and about to rain this afternoon.

I stopped by to see Max first thing this morning before work, to give him a quick check, make sure he had enough hay and give him a small pear. I'd bought pears the night before just for him. He loves them when they're all soft and ripe, and gets frothy pear whiskers, but he seems equally delighted with them when they're like this morning's pear, quite firm and crunchy.

Back at about two o'clock this afternoon to work with him, and felt rather limited in what we could do given the weather, so ho hum, back into the indoor school with his Dually, roller and long lines. It's often the sessions that start out "ho hum" that end up being the most successful.

I walked him in a bit, and then we concentrated on steering to the pressure and release, doing serpentines and figures of eight. Max responded incredibly well, and only got confused and lost when I was blocking him, which confused and lost me. So I observed to see where I was going wrong, and I could figure that out quickly enough by watching Max.

I decided not to use the driving whip this time. It's too cumbersome to try and hold that and the lines, and still have effective hands. Instead, I brought along his regular lead rope, which I dragged along the ground behind him, with the occasional flick of the wrist causing it to snake along behind his legs, encouraging him to lift his head and pick up his pace. It worked a treat, and was much easier to deal with than the driving whip. It didn't distract Max as much either, which was a bonus.

For real forward motion, gathering the lead rope up so that I could use it with a jump rope action well behind him was also very effective.

We did some fine trotting on both reins, back to walk and stand on voice. Then I decided to try reining him back from behind him on the lines. We've never been able to manage it before, ridden or on lines, and I wasn't really expecting much from him this time either, but Max picked up the cue very quickly.

First time it was a hesitant step backwards, and as soon as I saw him making that move, I clicked, released the pressure, and walked to his head to give him a pony nut.

We tried again, and again, a hesitant step back. Rinse and repeat, and by the fourth try, he stepped back with confidence, so another click treat, and back to walking the circle , then trotting.

By the end of the session, Max was coming back from trot to stand, and then, with almost no pressure and my voice saying "Back", he was taking multiple steps backwards in a straight line. What a clever boy!

Rein back is a very useful thing to add to our repertoire. I won't try it from the saddle until I'm very sure he has it really sorted, but today was a fine start down that road.

We left the school and went back to the yard the long way round, stopping by my car for his second small pear of the day, and then out to his field. He had a drink, and then rather than leaving him, I walked towards the middle of the field, sat myself down and watched him for about 20 minutes. He grazed for a bit, slowly working his way towards me until he was standing next to where I was sitting, grazing contentedly and giving me the occasional nudge.

His field mates eventually meandered over to join us, and I left them to it, but I took a little bit of their peace with me.

Flies to see you, to see you, flies!

The flying blighters are out in full force today, and Max and I had a grooming mishap because of them.

He was being worried on his belly by a big ol' horsefly (the size of a Datsun) and I was in the midst of applying spray to offer him some relief. Went in with my hand to brush the wee bugger away from his sheath, and as I did, Max raised his hind to give it a smack - smacked my wrist instead. Ouch!

Wasn't too bad - he wasn't giving it any wellie and just gave me a glancing blow. Enough to hurt, but not enough to break any bones. My own silly fault, really, but I also think he was aware that my hand was in the region, and of course he didn't want to give himself a hard smack in the belly.

Sweltering afternoon here (perspective check, sweltering for England; not sweltering for my Canadian friends).

I had thought about trying to ride Max in his Dually a little, to see how he went, but it was just too hot to contemplate the indoor school, and I will only try ridden Dually in the indoor school, initially, so at least we're contained.

So instead, I took him out for a country walk, once we'd protected him from the rampant flying biters.

It went pretty well. I took my schooling whip this time, which was just dandy for keeping his head out of the foliage, most of the time. He is such a skilled opportunist, I find it frustrating and admirable in equal parts. It's frustrating because he knows full well he's not to try grazing when we're working (I can see it in his crafty eyes), but he fakes me out on a regular basis.

"Ooh, just have an itch here on my foreleg. Just stop for a sec and let me have a scratch with my teeth... That's it, just having a wee scratch with my head down, and I'll just move a little further down now, a little further..." Nom, nom, nom on the grass.

"Head up, Max!"

"Nom, nom, nom..."

"Sir! Your head, UP!"

"Nom, nom... Is someone talking? What's that you say? Can't hear you above the chewing. You'll have to SPEAK UP, dear!"

We worked round it, and he really was pretty well behaved and bouncy. We had one stop where I directed him to look at the breathtaking scenery, and Max obliged, looking where I was pointing, and then gazing out, ears pricked, followed by a sigh and a sniff, as if to say, "Yes, you're right. That is a spectacular view."

We had a "scared of the pigs" poop on our road back home, and a couple of attempts to drag me into "the trot of anxiety", but the Dually took care of that. He really is getting the hang of it, and I don't have to use much pressure at all. Truth be told, now it's more about concentrating on being aware of when to release. When he trots forward without being asked, he causes his own corrective pressure on his nose, and it's my job to make sure that pressure doesn't become painful or give him a reason to have a panic with the tightening.

It seems to me now, working with the Dually over this past week, that it's as much, or even more about "give" than "take".

We still have a way to go, of course, but I'm very impressed with how much he has improved on staying with me, turning with me, stopping when I stop since we've started working with the Dually. His ground manners are improving daily. Now that he is beginning to understand how to work with pressure and release, I am hopeful we can move on to fine tuning with longlining and ridden work.

From the day I got him, I was hopeful that one day I could ride him without a bit, and I think we may just get there. Not that I believe bits are wrong, they definitely have their place in schooling, especially in encouraging an outline to help build up muscles in the right areas. I wouldn't give up my Pee Wee bit for anything, but it will be nice to mix things up a bit and have the option to go with or without as we fancy.

And speaking of stunning scenery, as Max and I were walking back, and he was strutting his fine self down the lane, I watched him and thought, "Look at my beautiful boy!"

My haphazard, cheeky, comedy pony sometimes displays such grace and dignity I can hardly believe it's me lightly holding the end of the lead line while this magnificent creature, full of strength and power, willingly walks next to me; like he's proud to be there, like that's where he belongs and feels comfortable. That he even allows me into his world, let alone guide him, is humbling.

There is just something about horses. Some intangible thing that makes one remember that the world is full of beauty, grace, nobility and magic.

Unanticipated day off

I don't know if my back is getting better (still feels ouchy) or if it was the porridge with blueberries and banana that I had for lunch, but I was back to my ol' zippy self at the yard today. Eight boxes done in less than an hour and a half. Yes, day beds, so no big deal, but after two weeks of dragging my bum through it and managing seven in two hours, it was heartening to feel back on track.

I worked a bit of overtime at the day job this morning, so knew I couldn't work Max before I started on the yard work, but hoped to spend some time with him afterwards.

No good though. Got home to find one of our kittens not in the best of spirits. Last day of a three day course of worming meds, and I think they took their toll on poor Fagan. He didn't want to eat, his nose was warm, and he was just a bit listless. Nothing alarming, but it did mean I had to come home quickly after the yard work to check on him. Can't be too careful with the little ones.

So poor ol' Max, released to his field without much time for pony loving from me. I was there early enough to give him a groom, check his feet, and cover him with fly spray, but that's it.

At the end of my shift, I went back out to check on him, as I'd promised him I would, and found his face covered in flies. Decided to give his fly mask another go, as he looked so miserable, and went back to the yard to fetch it.

Endearingly, as I walked back with mask and a couple of rubber bands to contain his forelock, I found Max at the gate waiting for me. Sorted his forelock out to make it comfy under the mask, brushed the flies away from his eyes, and put the mask on. He looked almost grateful! He also looked like he would have liked me to hang out with him a bit longer. As the other ponies came to investigate, to see if Max was getting anything good that they weren't, he saw them all off:

"My person. Shoo! Be off with you! Mine, mine and mine again!"

I hope tomorrow, kitty being well, I can spend the afternoon with Max, making up for our short time together today.

And no, I don't expect the fly mask to be on his head tomorrow morning when I see him.

Shall we show the neighbours, too?

If you know Max and are invited to watch and learn about the Dually halter, Max kindly asks that you decline the offer. He feels there are enough people bossing him about now; he doesn't want it to become a free for all.

Took quite a long time over grooming him this morning; just Max and I in his box having a good old clean off and scratch fest. We were waiting for the Ent to arrive so we could go out for a walk. I took Max into the school first, for a little in hand work, Ent joined us part way through and took over, while I took a back seat (with the occasional, hopefully helpful, back seat driver comment).

Didn't take long at all for the Ent to get the hang of the Dually, but it took a little longer for Max to get the hang of the Ent being able to exert some control over him. Max being a clever, kind and quite eager to please pony at the heart of it, though, he soon accepted what was being asked of him and offered it up.

When Max began to get the confused eyes, we decided to cut the school session and take him to the great outdoors. I don't know if it's as obvious when saturation point has been hit with other horses because I haven't worked with any other horses as intently as Max, but the Ent and I both commented at the same moment that Max was losing concentration and had had enough.

The great outdoors was a little less successful as Max wanted to have a graze, and to stop him doing that one would have to be quite rough with the pressure. We'd gone out without the schooling whip, and that was a mistake. He didn't need it the sound and motion to encourage him forward, but the occasional whoosh would have got his head back up and pointed in the right direction.

Another try at longlining in the week and then, if my back is up to it, a little bitless riding in the school.

Things learned today that are worth remembering: Massaging the tips of Max's ears makes him go all dopey and relaxed.

Double whuffle, day of rest

This English "summer" is giving me the pip!

Another day, started off fine and bright, for moments, it seemed, and then the wind picked up and the heavens opened. More rain, and more rain and still more rain.

Got to the yard around half two, running late because of working a bit of overtime and then a few errands to run. And while I ran, I thought about Max, and what we could do in this bad weather.

I've been wanting to try a bit of riding in his Dually, in the safety of the indoor school, but my back isn't up to riding yet, and the thought of another dusty session going round and round in circles at trot didn't thrill me, and I knew Max wouldn't be keen either.

So, I weighed things up, went home and had some lunch and decided what would suit both of us, but especially Max, would be to just let him go be a horse for the afternoon.

I had a day off from both my jobs yesterday, and as a consequence spent three hours with my boy, over an hour of which was in the school, long-lining, and then in hand. That's a lot of schooling for him in one go, and I thought he was reaching saturation point.

Whenever we try something new, a new bit, a new technique, a new head collar, he is grand for the first few days, and then, as he gets used to it, he loses his enthusiasm. I can understand that. Yesterday, he lacked energy, and I had to really chase after him to keep him moving. He'd trot on whenn asked, then sigh and settle down to a poky walk.

"Move on, sir!" I'd bark.

"Move on your own self!" he'd harrumph back.

So a break is a good idea at this point. If I could have ridden him out, I would have. A walk in hand? Well yes, perhaps we should have gritted out teeth against the wind and rain, but we'd both have been pretty miserable, and what's the point in that?

I was prepared to change my mind if he looked really eager to play. I approached his box and saw him head down, eating straw. His head snapped up at my approach and he gave me a welcoming whuffle.

I was empty handed, bar a cut up pear to throw in his feed bowl after I'd checked him over. Went to get a handful of pony nuts to see him through a bit of clicker training picking his feet up, and when I returned, another gentle whuffle.

I looked at his eyes, his stance, assessed his vibe and thought, yes, an early release to his field was exactly what was called for.

Hopefully the weather will improve a bit soon, and we can start playing in the sunshine again. As I type, the rain has let up, the sun is trying to peek through. I left Max in a contented huddle with his three field mates, so I hope he enjoys his lazy afternoon with nobody asking him to do anything but be a horse.

Join up? If I must. Round up? No chance!

Max has accepted his Dually, grudgingly, and long ago delighted me with "join up", but if I think some pony bothering, western riding, horse whispering, stetson wearing COWBOY is going to turn Max into a cow pony, then, apparently, I've got another think coming.

I took a break in the afternoon yard work to work Max. The skies were threatening (again) (still), my back was hurting (again) (still) but Max and I are both tired of the indoor school, so I figured we'd take the Dually out for a little spin, and if it rained on us, well, we'd get wet.

We were walking down the lane, doing some work on changing pace when I saw a lone man walking towards me, and recognised him as the dairy farmer. Waved and he waved back, then turned a made a noise of encouragement. To his dog, I thought.

We got level with each other and the farmer smiled, nodded to Max and said, "He doesn't mind cows, does he?"

"No, he grew up with cows," I replied. I was about to ask why, when I saw why. A herd... well, a herdette really, of loose cows coming down the lane towards us.

"What the...?" Max stood still and went all statuesque on me.

"So he'll be fine then," the farmer said.

"Umm..."

Max lost all sense of decorum, dignity and gravitas.

"Cows! Cows heading this way! Run! Run! Cows!"

I told him he was silly and he knew very well what cows were. He used to share his field with them, but Max would not be reasoned with. Rather than fight him, I turned him back towards home and he took off in a mad trot of panic and disarray. I wanted to try and collect him, but I was almost helpless with laughter.

"You big jessie!" I chided fondly, as we heard the farmer laughing behind us. "Just walk, sir. The cows aren't going to hurt you."

"Cows! Run for your lives! Take cover! It's an ambush! STAMPEDE!"

So I ran with him, arm over his withers for support, laughing myself silly.

We turned up the yard drive and into the indoor school for a little bit of calm work in hand. Twenty minutes of beautiful trotting on one long line and his Dually. Really pleasing effort from the boy. Then as the sun was still shining, we ventured back out and up the lane again with no further close encounters of the bovine kind.

The (long) line of least resistance

Max and I had a go at long lining in his new Dually today, and I think Max would like a word with that Monty Roberts fella and his new fangled training aids. Mr Roberts is a pony botherer and disturber of the peace of the highest order!

It went pretty well, from my perspective. Max tried a few of his old evasion tricks and found they didn't work. We didn't keep at it for too long. Once I'd settled him in, after one buck of protest and frustration, and had him going well in walk and trot on both reins, I left it at that and the Ent took him out for a long walk.

I think the long lining will continue to go well, as long as we build up our sessions slowly. I don't want to overwhelm Max; just give him a chance to settle in to this new way of working.

The walk with the Ent wasn't quite as successful as the walk Max and I had on or own earlier in the week, but it was an improvement for man and horse, and man managed to stay on the track without being body checked into the nettles even once.

I challenge you to a Dually!

Max and I tried out his new bit of kit today, after I'd spent some time watching the instructional DVD. It's all about pressure and release, and the timing has got to be good, the hand that holds the line steady and kind.

He was a bit lethargic when I arrived, and I thought first to take him into the school so we'd have a contained space. I did not intend to be at it long. I find when introducing something new to Max, little and often is the best start.

We did a little work on walking, standing and backing up, and Max, after an initial look of surprise "What the heck? How that happen?" caught on fairly quickly. I gave him a bit of time off to have a wander and a roll as he mulled over new events, and then we tried just a little bit more walking and turning in hand.

It probably would have been contrary to advice on a first outing, but after that, I decided to take Max for a little walk in the great outdoors to see how we got on. I know Max and what he is up for in the moment, so it didn't feel risky. I figured we'd be fine, and if we weren't we turn for home quick smart.

No need. What a successful walk it was! No dawdling, no deciding to stop and stare, no trying to snatch at passing greenery. He stayed, nose just at my shoulder, keeping pace with me. A bit of commotion with cows being moved to our right, and piglets on parade further on, and although Max had his alert face on, he didn't hesitate. I didn't have him under pressure, either, loose hand, give in the lead rope and just the occasional squeeze of pressure with my hand to urge him on.

I'm not expecting miracles, and I know we must proceed slowly and steadily with this new training aid, but so far, I'm impressed by Max's response after such a short introduction.

It will be interesting to see if the Ent notices the difference on our Sunday walk (after he's watched the DVD).

I learned something new about Max today

And a very heartwarming thing it is, too.

I arrived at the yard and the newest horse and his owner (hate the word "owner" - how do we "own" a living critter, but it's just semantics) were on the yard doing a grooming session, having just had the vet out for a general check up.

I headed over to Max with his marmite on toast, to find him at the back of his box looking eager. Had a bit of a munch and a fuss, and then new owner was at the door with a big beaming smile.

"Did you know that Max starts calling as soon as your car turns into the drive?"

No, I did not know that. I have remarked before that his head is often over the box as soon as I park up, and I have wondered before if he recognises the sound of my car, but I've only ever heard him call to me occasionally when I appear in front of him.

This is the second time she's noticed it. The first time she thought it was a one off, but now she thinks that Max, very sweetly, is very aware when I turn into the drive, and he starts nickering gently, then whuffling as I park up.

Aw! How lovely is that?

We didn't get up to too much today. Max was a little stiff on his right hind, and I'm a little stiff down my right side, so after a slow grooming session (bliss to be under no time pressure) I first took him out for a walk in hand, then brought him back and saddled up for a little work in the school. It was OK, a bit aimless really. I tied the reins up and was trying hard to just direct with my seat and weight, which had minimal success. I wasn't looking for great things though, so wasn't bummed about it.

Then we rode out for a little under a threatening sky full of black clouds. The day is warm, but heavy rain was threatening (seems to have blown over, temporarily) so we cut it short.

My Dually halter has arrived in the post today, and I'm going to watch the video with the Ent, hopefully tonight. It's a training halter, all about pressure and release. It should help us fine tune a few things, give the Ent a good idea on ways to handle Max and not end up being pushed into a ditch or a convenient bramble bush. It's an all purpose bit of kit. Not only can I take him out in hand in it, I'll be able to long-line him in it, and also, eventually, I should be able to ride in it too, without a bit. I have high hopes that it works for us that way, because I love the idea of being able to eliminate the bit , at least some of the time. Gentle hands still needed; pressure on the nose can be just as nasty has hard pressure on the mouth.

The Dually was devised by Monty Roberts as a kind, non-violent training aid, and has been used successfully in training by quite a few of my horsey mates, so I am hopeful it will help Max and me, too.