trot video

Finally captured the latest trot work ; it was really windy but he worked well. He is still uncertain with his balance and so his head/neck are not that stable but much improved I think. I'm using the 1/4's moving when I *loose* him (ie when he gets tooonward bound and ignores my aids) and I find that if I ask for a giravolta as soon as he stops listening then it engages the head and then as I increase the circle I can replace the shoulders in front of the 1/4's....until he looses himself again, lol.

model man

So here he is; Moo 's the man.....

I'm probably getting quite boring

Do I care? If I'm being boring it's because I'm all excited, LOL. Another good ridden session today; good trot work and even a little canter to check the brakes. Moo is just like a *proper* horse now but with *beans* which is just perfect because I LIKE forward in a horse. We had some good transitions and lateral work and I probably had a big grin on my face the whole time. To think I nearly didn't ride as it was so hot this afternoon but I'm glad I did; I needed to for his feet rehab anyway so I'm feeling doubly happy. It is so nice not to have a head and neck acting like a snake on speed.
I do feel I can go back to my *turning* ramblings now, it all makes so much sense when you're bitless.....ummm, some clarity I hope. I still have a huge mountain to climb with regard to where all this might fit in with my belief system, oh dear I'm sure I'm too old to be starting back at the beginning again.
Here, for Kate particularly, is the type of hackamore I'm using, I forgot to take 'pics today but mine is way higher on the nose than this and I wouldn't ever advocate using one this low.

ouch

Not me but Moralejo. As I had surmised he has sore feet, thin soles and no heels and so he is bruising easily. The good news is that my fab new trimmer (thanks Jane) can sort it with time. Bad news for Moo is that he should exercise as much as possible in the sand but no hacking until I sort out some front boots (oh help this is new territory and very bad news for my pocket).

Worked him today in the hackamore, haven't done this for some time and he felt really good...makes me aware of my hands as they are somewhat obselete in a bitless. The difference now is that he is so aware of my body turning aids that he does work pretty much *off* my hands. I need to video because it feels good but maybe it isn't. As always the *doubt* creeps in, LOL.