Well today we had feet trimmed and sunshine YAY. I wasn't actually expecting Gareth to turn up because he was sick this morning, he was very quiet but I was very grateful that he'd been (11 weeks since last time) and very pleased that he thinks Moo's feet are really getting there now. He was 100% on the sharp stones after the trim which is a first.

After trims we worked on the in-hand, concentrating on bend and massaging the tight bits of the neck whilst in motion. Something that I'd been forgetting to do in-hand (but that I'd noticed on the recent vids) was to look up  ; whilst it's important to see what's going on with him it is very important to have the forward (or sideways) focus to draw you.

Added in some small circles after bending  (making sure to straighten the neck for the circle) and some then shoulder/hind yielding into a halt and rein back  I love this little exercise because they really 'sit' into the rein back. Ended up working from larger to smaller circles and asking him to move out through the shoulder first on his sticky left rein. Lots of transitions direct and progressive and some great stretching down.

Had a short canter which somewhat spoiled the session  as he had eaten ALL the beans. I'll try and get it on camera so that you can pull it apart for me, I don't think it's any discomfort more that he has memory that it wasn't comfortable before and he's so very sensitive, takes it all too personally.