What have we been up to? Nothing very exciting. The girthiness is coming and going. His feet are an absolute state so he’s clearly getting more grass than he was. Very flared and chipped. Trimmer back out tomorrow so that should sort them out but I don’t want to restrict his grazing any more. I put some fake sheepskin on the muzzle and it’s mostly stopped rubbing at least.

We have been continuing to work on his pushiness at ST which is making some slow progress. I still haven’t had my feedback from the first touchstones which is a bit annoying. Hopefully soon!

We did go to a dressage clinic last week and the bucking was back in left canter which was a bit upsetting. Did some work on it when we got home and he was ok….a bit resistant but not terrible. Took him out to a show jumping course hire yesterday and no bucking at all. We were jumping from trot and only over 40cm (about 1’6″) but he seemed to enjoy it.

Here he is looking a bit hot and sweaty before getting back on the trailer:

We have conquered loading though to the point that he will now load from the side of the ramp well before I’m actually ready for him and get quite cross with me that things weren’t set up. Hard life being a pony :wub:

Bit of a mixed couple of weeks I think. He’s now out overnight, muzzled, which suits him well. He’s not really eating much food during the day when he’s in, but that’s ok. I’m trying to make sure he at least gets his Succeed. He was improving in terms of being less touchy and girthy but this past week he seems worse again. That could be the change of routine, or not eating his supplements or a variety of other things. Trying not to worry about it too much at the minute, and hoping it will settle down again once he’s adjusted to the new routine. He’s keeping the muzzle on overnight which is good, although it’s rubbing his face a little.

We’ve mostly been hacking and doing straightness training recently. Still don’t have my assessments for the touchstones I’ve submitted but hopefully I will get those soon. Meanwhile we’re working on ‘work in hand’ which has the rein attached to both side rings of the cavesson (as opposed to groundwork where it’s only attached in the middle ring). Feeling a lot less clumsy but he’s nipping a bit again and being quite pushy now we’re doing something new so it’s back to basics a bit.

I’ve not done much schooling but I did pop in the school yesterday and, much to my surprise given the girthiness, he was amazingly forwards. It was lovely!

Rosie was so suprised she got some video for me – it’s on FB I’m afraid but hopefully you can see it:

https://www.facebook.com/silkyraven/videos/10153435735385670/

So. Bit weird really but I think he’s enjoying being out on grass!