So I’ve started to try and translate some of the clicker work we’ve been doing on the lunge to our ridden work. We had a go on Monday and it went ok, so I want to keep at it really. I had a lesson with Katie this morning and I was really in two minds about whether to raise it with her and take my clicker to the lesson. It’s not a common training method and lots of instructors find it a bit ‘out there’. Katie has always been open minded and interested…but using a clicker gives a much more stop start feel to things (as every time you click Dino stops dead for his treat. Even if we were cantering!) and you never know how that’s going to go down.

Well I should not have been worried! Katie was GREAT. Really curious about how it works and by the end of the lesson she could really see the change in attitude it was bringing to Dino. He was much more alive rather than slightly hiding in his shell – she said his face lit up every time I clicked and he was really trying to work out what to do to get the next reward. At the end of he lesson her advice was KEEP DOING THIS IT’S ACE which is great as it means I can keep doing things consistently with him and I hope we’ll be making real progress soon!

I’m slipping in my updates again! Sorry! After all that long winter cold, rain and snow I’m loathe to complain about the sunshine…but it has been pretty hot this past few weeks and I would prefer a little cooler. Two weeks ago my sister and my brother-in-law came to see us and do a wonderful photoshoot of me and Dino. I’m super pleased with the results!

Training wise I’ve got a couple of niggles that are stopping us a bit. This last week he’s been a tiny bit footy and I can feel digital pulses (a possible early sign of laminitis) so I’ve put his grazing muzzle back on. There was a feed company in the yard last week weighing horses for free: he clocked in at 608kg! His ideal target is 575kg so he’s a bit over which won’t help on the lami front. He did seem to be moving better yesterday after a couple of days muzzled so hopefully I don’t need to keep him inside totally.

Another small concern is that his cheek on the side where we had all the jaw trauma a few years ago is looking very puffy. I’m hoping he’s maybe got a sharp tooth or something, or that the muzzle has rubbed something and it’s not anything to do with the troublesome tooth but I will get the vet out next week!! Bit annoying and concerning.

I’ve taken a break from riding in the heat and we’ve gone back to clicker training for impulsion on the lunge. Just in a headcollar as his jaw might be hurting but I’m focussing on clicking for happy relaxed forward momentum. I think he’s beginning to get it! We shall see.