playing with my pony

Chapiro seems to change before my very eyes and I am slowly learning to love the little bugger. Like a child he stretches you to the absolute limits and probably teaches me more than I can ever hope to teach him. He delights and frustrates equally and today was no exception.
Being Father's Day we spent most of the day lunching out and taking in the tourist sights ofBrantôme, (something we rarely get a chance to do as we are hell bent on finishing our kitchen and lounge at the moment). Known as the Venice of the Dordogne, Brantôme is a tourist trap but in June it is still bearable (February is better still) and we had a delightful day.
Anyway, I digress, back to Chapiro. Mellow from my day out I took him down to the school and took off the lead rope and on the advice of an EE friend, Butterfly, I waited to see what HE wanted to play at. We just stood there, looking at each other until he broke ranks and came over to check me out. Seems he was happy to play. We played back up, follow my leader, target my leg, walk away in *that* direction (please) and scratch my neck Mum. He was a total star, following my body language and me saying nothing. I took out two poles and made an open *box* with them and the side of the school. He thought they were truly terrifying and avoided them at all costs. I was dead chuffed that within 5 minutes he would walk between them, stand inside the box, reverse into the box and (this was the hardest to crack and he kept walking around them) finally would walk OVER them. Then I turned him out and he chased the pony......argghh, oh well guess he just stretched me again.
I had a lovely time and he seemed quite content, tomorrow ,as they say, is another day.

Chapiro de Noaillas

Playing with my baby boy today. It's too tricky getting him to move and film at the same time so apologies for the quality. Looks like sideways will be easy, lol

my little pocket rocket

aka Chapiro. Today was a change of field routine and lots of faffing about so only really had time to work with my baby today (maybe get time for Moo later). Today we tried the saddle on, it's a narrowish dressage which sat really nicely and will do fine for getting him used to it all. No girth as yet but we did have a few moments of baby flexion with the bit and he was pretty settled....time now to grow up my little man. Here he is doing what he does best, eating, looking cool and hoolying around, lol.

teenage thug

3 year old horse= teenage boy, or so it seems. Could have cheerfully strangled Chapiro yesterday, he was on one and chased the pone mercilessly until I managed to catch him (he was flat out bronco so not easy). This morning I worked him a little in the barn before turnout and he was fine all day; worked him again this evening in the school and he was a little star. I've had a few sessions keeping him *outa my space* (for me the MOST important lesson) and sending him away from me in either direction with a hand aid and tonight we linked it all up to going away from me onto a circle, in walk. He circled both ways on the lunge and so we stopped there and went for a quick walk in the field before dinner. Good day really.

Deuxième partie

Just had to add a second part to today.....Chapiro had his first outing in the school this evening and he was a little star. Walked calmly down, had a snort at the leveller and then walked around the track on both reins. Walked away from me onto a circle in both directions and let me tickle him all over with the lunge whip. Good end to the day.