AIDS the substance (part 2.b)

Writing this blog is really helping me, maybe I'm being a little too self analytical all the time but jeez I need to be as I have so many bad habits.
This morning I lunged Moo, first let me say how darned proud I am of my boy, he is finally growing up. Moo managed to walk down to the school calm and quiet in spite of Fugly running around and calling, he also lunged sensibly and listened at least 90% of the time (thank goodness for clicker training) and went back up to the yard without a hitch.
Whilst lunging I realised how much white noise I give off, extra little noises to urge him forwards or slow him down, inadvertent movements of a hand or the whip. Gawd I'm like some kid who can't be controlled, lol, so how the heck do I expect him to pick out the important bits? I tried very hard from then on to just give commands, whip up to go, rein hand up to stop, step to the shoulder to turn on the forehand etc etc I could use just body language or just voice to make him stop and go so why use both at the same time?
After a couple of days off work due to Fugly's arrival (he is much calmer now) I was so happy to be back to work, my horses keep me sane (ish).

time

So how much time does it, should it take? He's not a baby but Moo is still finding the right canter tricky on the lunge. Bucks and farts and even manages all four feet off the ground (no mean feat for his podginess) and generally just finds it hard to go straight forwards. After lots of transitions and spirals he improves, bit of clicking for the good transitions always gets him more focussed too.
I'm glad I'm writing all this up because the day I say...yay the canter is THERE I can look back and see how hard it's been, lol.
The last WB I owned was a baby but he could ride a canter circle from almost day one, in relatively good uphill balance. On the other hand my Friesian found it incredibly hard for ages but got there in the end.
So, back to *time*....the book's open, any bets as to how long? You can have evens on it taking more than a year!!!
Lovely sunny day today, feel very lucky as so many folks in the UK have had it quite rough.

straight......

Yesterday, being Wednesday, was the usual rush. No school here on Wednesday and so we usually try to fit in riding the pone, library trip etc. All going to plan until we have to go into town for building supplies (yes, like most brit expats we ARE renovating) and was pleased that I had the foresight to lunge Moo first thing. He's really responsive now and even manages the downwards transitions from a vibrate on the cavesson with a voice aid to help.
Off to judo where Lydia received her yellow belt, dead chuffed for her and it really helps her sleeping on a wednesday night....wow they whack them out at judo, lol.
No connection last night, every time I got on line it timed me straight out, server I think but then despite my technical background I'm no boffin on these matters.
Today it was gorgeous again, put out early and then off to Perigueux to get the new windows. By the time we got back, picked up from school etc it was 5.00pm....just enough time for a lunge. Which was actually really good because I was discussing straightness/strong/hollow in the car with Patrick and it was interesting in my newly levelled school to see how straight he was.
So on the left rein he throws the 1/4's in by about 5cm (hollow side) and on the stiff (right rein) he loads the inside shoulder by a similar amount. Interestingly after some spirals, walk/trot/canter transitions the *throw* was much less, down to about 1cm or so. Just shows how much the lunging stretches/loosens them.
Really wanted to ride but I promised myself I will only ride when I have proper time.