Sorry sorry! I haven’t been keeping this up to date AT ALL. But things have been completely mad; with a horse show (GBPRE 2018) and a Convention (Discworld 2018) to run and then my new boss started at work. I feel like my feet haven’t touched the ground in weeks 🙁

Dino has had a bunch of time off whilst I’ve been gallivanting around the place and I think that’s suited him quite nicely! But we’re getting back into things now. Today we did a tiny spot of clear round at the yard which was fun but proved I really need to get my eye back in again.

My focus with him at the moment is to try and finally get on top of his motivation issues and I’ve gone full clicker, as the halfway house we were using had bought some improvement but wasn’t quite getting us where we want to be. So. Get on horse, ask very quietly and gently to walk on. Wait. If he walks > click, treat. If not, ask again. No escalation in pressure, just wait until he understands and moves on. I’ve done three sessions like this and I feel like there is improvement in the walk….the trot and canter are certainly a work in progress but hopefully in a few weeks we’ll be making some real progress! I don’t have another lesson with Katie for a week and a bit so I’m hoping we will have made some noticeable improvement by then.

The biggest challenge is keeping control of my own frustration and temper. The temptation to pile the pressure on when he’s not quite where I want him is almost over-whelming….but as some good friends of mine would tell you, you get out what you put in. So if I keep putting in frustration, anger and agitation I’m not going to get out a quiet, confident, relaxed, motivated pony, am I?! I don’t feel like I’ve been in the right head space to make this progress before so I’m pleased with myself that I’m working at it. Watch this space!