Teddy Log: #146 - Six Million Dollar Teddy!

Teddy Log: #146 - Six Million Dollar Teddy!: Teddy Smith - Australian Stock Horse - a horse barely capable of behaving himself. Ladies and Gentleman, we can rebuild him - we have the...

#146 - Six Million Dollar Teddy!

Teddy Smith - Australian Stock Horse - a horse barely capable of behaving himself.

Ladies and Gentleman, we can rebuild him -  we have the technology
We have the capability to make the world's first bionic horse
Teddy Smith will be that horse!
Better than he was before - Better. Stronger. Faster.

Today was another wonderful day towards achieving bionic Teddy!

A great way to end 2011.

Teddy Log: #145 - We are booked in to the Aurum Eventing Clin...

Teddy Log: #145 - We are booked in to the Aurum Eventing Clin...: I have booked Teddy and I into the Aurum Equestrian Centre Eventing Training Clinics in January 2012. This will be our first group riding ...

#145 - We are booked in to the Aurum Eventing Clinics

I have booked Teddy and I into the Aurum Equestrian Centre Eventing Training Clinics in January 2012.

This will be our first group riding experience together. We will be put into a group according to our level of ability, which wont be high as I've never done eventing in my life, and we will receive two training sessions per day. I've book for all four days over January and I think this, along with my regular lessons, will be good training over the holiday period. I'll continue to work him at home too.

I hope to take Teddy over to the water complex at the Aurum Centre as yesterday I took him to our dam and he would have walked right in if he didn't sink with his front hooves! Maybe he's a water horse! (not the Loch Ness kind!)

I'm excited and nervous about this. I just hope he handles himself well with the other horses!

Here is a pic of me and Teddy at our lesson at Aurum. Now I better go and read up on what eventing actually entails...

#144 - Putting it into practice

Today Teddy and I saddled up but didn't do much riding as I wanted to put him through the relaxation techniques we learned. We also did a bit of ground work and I think he was bored by the end of it as he starting being cheeky by grabbing hold of the reins in his teeth, not tugging or pulling, just playing around. So I put my finger in the side of his mouth and stroked his tongue and he'd let go and then later do it all again. I think he thought it a good game!

He did very well so I will book my next lesson soon.

Steve came out with the camera and took some photos. Here is a rare pic of Steve and Teddy together. Steve always has to be a goofball in photos!

Teddy Log: #143 - Wonderful work Mr Bear!

Teddy Log: #143 - Wonderful work Mr Bear!: I took Teddy out to Aurum Equestrian Centre today and was feeling some trepidation as I was driving down to the car park. All I could think ...

#143 - Wonderful work Mr Bear!

I took Teddy out to Aurum Equestrian Centre today and was feeling some trepidation as I was driving down to the car park. All I could think of was Teddy playing up and doing who-knows-what to god-knows-who! I was expecting today to be a ground work day as he would be so anxious that Kim wouldn't want me to ride.

When he unloaded he was hyper alert and as each minute passed he got worse.  He was looking around at the other horses and then the dog spooked him; then the cat spooked him, then Kim's partner Richard spooked him. Even some imaginary spooky thing spooked him, I just couldn't work out what it was!

Thankfully Kim was there to show me some techniques to relax him. They were simple exercises but they worked a treat.  Within about 10 minutes he had his head low and almost looked like he was ready to go to sleep. I got a demo from Kim and then took over myself and we worked through his anxiety together. Great and simple methods that can be done anywhere.

Next I saddled him up and Kim taught us how to keep his mind on the job and stop spooking at anything he was unfamiliar with while in the saddle. He was no were near as tense as he was initially but having a rider on him ramped it up just a touch so we worked through that in no time. It didn't take long in the saddle for him to relax, and I mean the kind of relaxed that resulted in no head tossing! Next we were in a trot and he just wasn't consistent so I was taught how to work on him getting the consistency we need. I would say we were half way there by the end of the lesson.

Teddy did surprisingly well and I am very proud of him. I'm also very grateful for having such a wonderful teacher! I really appreciate the sensibleness to Kim's teaching as there are just so many horse people that believe their way is the best way that it can be mind boggling. I'm not after one discipline or technique, I am after the one that works best for me and my horse.

What could have been an nightmare wasn't a bad trip at all and I will be using those relaxation techniques before we start any work together.

Teddy Log: #142 - Teddy's first outing - will there be anothe...

Teddy Log: #142 - Teddy's first outing - will there be anothe...: I woke this morning determined to take Teddy out in the float. It was a windy day, which should have been a warning to me as I don't like ri...

#142 - Teddy's first outing - will there be another?

I woke this morning determined to take Teddy out in the float. It was a windy day, which should have been a warning to me as I don't like riding in the wind, but I had a 'now or never' attitude. The first hour was spend fluffing about trying to work out what key goes with what and what I should store in the float. Even though I wasn't going far I wanted to be sure I was ready for anything. I got all the tack ready, then I got a first aid kit for me, one for Teddy, buckets, water, extra hay twine and a little bucket of chopped carrots.

Next I had to work out where to put the mounting block and at the same time I realised I didn't have a hay net so I went into town and bought one along with a bale of lucerne. When I got back I spent a good 15 minutes trying to work out a way of backing up the ute to the float by myself. It wasn't like I could nudge the float around if I was off centre a bit as it weighs over a ton! And I couldn't see the coupler. I ended up driving a stake into the ground right in front of it and tried to line it up that way. That worked pretty well, the problem was getting the tow ball directly under the coupler. That had me in and out of the car many times - an inch back, two inches forward... but I eventually go there. I was feeling pretty happy with myself.

Then I had to hook everything up and in the process caught my little finger between the tow ball and the coupler! Good thing I had already packed the first aid kit! I will probably lose my nail and I've got a blood blister that covers the entire tip. It bloody killed so I ran around with a throbber for about half and hour, but finally got the float hooked up and ready to go.

Next challenge wasn't too bad. I had to get Teddy in the float and it only took about 5 minutes and he wasn't being a lala, just cautious. With Teddy all set up we were off.  As soon as we got the the reserve he unloaded well then went into Teddy hyper mode. High alert and on edge. When I put him in the corral he nipped me on the arm so I wasn't happy. I saddled him up and took him to the arena. I lost the key to the club arena so had to use the one next door. Then we had the worse game of "Keep Tania off Teddy" we have played in ages. Around and around in circles he went. Once I was on him, he was jumpy and decided that a bench on the side of the arena was a monster and spooked at it a few times. We eventually made the monsters acquaintance and he was ok with it.  I tried to keep him occupied with serpentine work and he eventually calmed down, but not enough to stop tossing his head. This neurotic response of his has been pretty good of late, but not today. It did not stop. We had a small canter but I didn't ask for it so I put that to a halt straight away. The rest of the ground work was trying to ease him through the big new scary place and trotting and walking work. The wind was driving us both nuts too, but we rode for about 45 minutes to an hour.

Next was the most annoying part of the day. Teddy didn't want to get back in the float! I was very, very patient and after about 10 or 15 minutes he went in. It was all a matter of Teddy being a turd, no other reason for it. Backing up, pulling, going sideways, little rears, you name it he tried it without being aggressive. It was a battle of wills and patience but I eventually got him to load without it becoming a traumatic experience for either of us. We then headed home and he let out a huge sign as soon as he got in his paddock.

This picture was taken just after I reloaded him.  I know it looks like butter wouldn't melt in his mouth but don't be fooled, he had just finished being a pain in the finger (float injury), elbow (falling off injury from last time) and arm (from the bite today).  After cleaning the float I was exhausted.

I know next time wont be quite so bad but how am I going to have lessons with him if I don't know how long it will take to load him and be a lala when he goes to each new environment. A one hour lesson will be at least 3 hours and that will be on a good day. If I book for 12pm I could be still having issues until 12.30pm. And what will become of Teddy if this doesn't go well?
I have the next six weeks to find out.

Teddy Log: #141 - The best play ever!

Teddy Log: #141 - The best play ever!: I had to work back late tonight so my plans to ride Teddy went out the window. So when I got home I  cooked tea and then I thought I'd go se...

#141 - The best play ever!

I had to work back late tonight so my plans to ride Teddy went out the window. So when I got home I  cooked tea and then I thought I'd go see him before the sun went down. I walked into the paddock and gave him a pat. Then I went to check a fence and saw him following me. I said, "Come on Teddy!" and starting jogging off and he started trotting along side me. I weaved and he weaved I stopped and he stopped. I ran the length of the paddock and he was by my side. I stopped and gave him a pat and he literally started licking my hand! Off I went again and we ran around and he was right with me, not in my space but beside me. At one stage I'm jogging and he was prancing at my side. I would have thought it was just him trotting slow so he could not out pace me but his head was tucked in and his front legs were high! It was just beautiful.  When we stopped I had to catch my breath and he was just watching, ear forward with the kindest eyes. Then he followed me to the gate and hung around for me to hug that long neck of his.

What a fun time!

Teddy Log: #140 - Teddy wanted me OFF today...

Teddy Log: #140 - Teddy wanted me OFF today...: ...Well at the start anyway. After I fell the other day I ended up with a sore shoulder and a few big black bruises on my leg but I was ...

#140 - Teddy wanted me OFF today...

...Well at the start anyway.

After I fell the other day I ended up with a sore shoulder and a few big black bruises on my leg but I was fine. Knowing that I'd be getting on the bike to do a workout as well as ride today I thought I'd stick to improving on our aids at a walk. As usual Teddy did a great job, but as usual he had to do something new in a dummy spit kind of way. This time I got on and when I asked him to move on he did a small buck. I hardly felt it but it was there. I continued to ask and he continued to do it for about 10 seconds, then gave up and went about his business.

This is one of three things -
1. He wants my big arse off his back and would rather be in the paddock doing what he's doing in the  photo above
2. He is sore and I'm aggravating it
3. He's just a punk

It's probably a combination of 1 and 3 but I'll get him checked for 2 if he keeps it up.

As for the aids - fantastic response. I was happy with my position and how we did things so it was good.

Oh and there was no head tossing.

Oh and he had a small dummy spit when I took his bridle off.

Just a regular day with Teddy really.

Teddy Log: #139 - Fell off Teddy Today!

Teddy Log: #139 - Fell off Teddy Today!: Yep, it's true and what's most embarrassing about it is that Teddy wasn't even moving! I was mounting and over compensated and flew right ...

#139 - Fell off Teddy Today!

Yep, it's true and what's most embarrassing about it is that Teddy wasn't even moving!

I was mounting and over compensated and flew right over the other side and smashed into the ground! Bloody hell! The only two times I've fallen off a bike in my life was when they weren't moving too!

It's so embarrassing and I've got a sore and grazed right elbow and bruised right thigh, but I think my ego is bruised more.

Ouch!

Teddy Log: #138 - Back in the saddle again....

Teddy Log: #138 - Back in the saddle again....: I'm back riding Teddy and I hope this isn't interrupted again, but we will see how I go. Teddy is definitely in need of exercise, this spr...

#138 - Back in the saddle again....

I'm back riding Teddy and I hope this isn't interrupted again, but we will see how I go.

Teddy is definitely in need of exercise, this spring grass has made him too fat but he's not about to founder or anything, so I hope to get a regular routine happening over the summer and throughout daylight savings.

I'll have my float in 4 weeks too so all is looking up for Team Teddy!

Teddy Log: #137 - I'm a cowgirl!!!

Teddy Log: #137 - I'm a cowgirl!!!: Today while Steve and his old mate Sean were messing about I was trying to get the cows into the lane way so they could be loaded into the c...

#137 - I'm a cowgirl!!!

Today while Steve and his old mate Sean were messing about I was trying to get the cows into the lane way so they could be loaded into the crush when Ian came to tag all the cows and castrate the bull.

Well it seems our cows are just too well fed as what would normally be an easy job worked out to be a real farming test. First the guys and I tried to lure them with hay, which I have seen Mercedes abandon her baby for in the past, but clearly the rich spring grass had left them disinterested. So the guys went and sat down while I went and got fruit - our cows preferred snack -  but I got not a hint of a care from any of them. With time running out I decided to saddled up Teddy and tried to round them up like a real farmer!

I've never rounded up cattle before and this was one of the most worrying but funnest horse riding experiences I've ever had. I took Teddy up to the back paddock and just waltzed over to the cows and then led them to the far gate. Things were going well then just as we reached the gate the cows made a run for it. Teddy and I followed and I could feel Teddy anticipating the cows direction as they moved. We'd trot up to them on one side along the fence, then the cows would break from us and I'd canter around the other side trying to direct them to the gate. I honestly had no idea what I was doing and was kind of relying on Teddy's instincts. I wasn't getting very far as the cows separated into two packs so I could only focus on one mum and calf while the others went right back to the other end of the paddock. Then I tried to group them again but just when I thought things were going well they would bugger off in separate directions. Just as I saw Ian drive up the driveway I thought I'd call the guys back to try and block the next couple of run aways. With Steve and Sean walking in one direction to block them I managed to get them up and through the gate. I was wrapped!

I proudly walked up to Ian and told him I count this as my first successful attempt at rounding up cows on horseback. He said that it doesn't count, the cows were just sick of me charging around the paddock so they went through the gate to spare me the embarrassment! Laughing I told him as far as I was concerned it still counted!

We took the cows to the crush and put a ring on Gunny and tagged them all, vaccinated them and drenched the adults. Teddy looked on with his head over the gate while the cows made a huge racket. Then Ian, a true stockman, decided to give me some lessons on rounding up cattle on horseback and on the ground. Bloody good advise too!

I practised rounding up Mercedes on the ground and was wrapped to see how well it worked. I cant wait for the next time I have to round them up again.

Teddy Log: #136 - Christmas came early!

Teddy Log: #136 - Christmas came early!: Teddy and I in the sun today I received an early Christmas present from Steve today - a mounting block - which has solved my mounting prob...

#136 - Christmas came early!

Teddy and I in the sun today

I received an early Christmas present from Steve today - a mounting block - which has solved my mounting problems because Teddy doesn't move away from it. I have no idea why I just know that it's FANTASTIC! Thank you Steve! LOVE YOU HEAP!

I have been riding Teddy over the last two days as the weather has been perfect. Yesterday it was in the GP saddle and today was in the stock saddle. He clearly prefers the stock saddle but its a little more difficult for me to rise at a trot. Regardless I think I will stick with it, I'm sure I'll get used to it. We also had a cantering session today and apart from the head tossing Teddy did great! I was a bit tense at the start but when I told myself to get over myself... well, myself listened and I was really pleased with our ride today. It was the first real sweat for the year for Teddy.

Tomorrow's weather will be good too so more riding! I have a lesson on Thursday and my holidays start on Friday! I'm having a great week!

Teddy Log: #135 - Going sideways isn't that easy

Teddy Log: #135 - Going sideways isn't that easy: Teddy and I did some ground work today and I was trying to teach him to go sideways so when in the saddle, if I want to open a gate I can g...

#135 - Going sideways isn't that easy

Teddy and I did some ground work today and I was trying to teach him to go sideways so when in the saddle, if I want to open a gate I can get him up against it or just generally moving into canter leads with him.

We started playing the Touch It game and he will pretty much touch anything with his nose when I ask and tap it - a fence post, table, ball, Steve etc. Then we did some circling and he did much better though he is a bit of a crowder of my space so we just need to work on that. Then when we were practising going sideways I could get him to do the front end or the back end but only occasionally both. Mostly he would start sideways while I walked but then immediately swing around to face me and stop; like he needs to at a stand still. I must be confusing the messages. I need to review how to teach him this as I swear he was looking at me with concern that HE wasn't getting it right. It was almost like he was asking, "What exactly do you want me to do here?" Poor bugger.

Don't worry Teddy, you're a genius so you will get it when I know how to ask you properly.

Teddy Log: #134 - Teddy the Yo-Yo

Teddy Log: #134 - Teddy the Yo-Yo: I was out playing games with Teddy again and he is really loving it. All educational games of course but fun and engaging for him nonethele...

#134 - Teddy the Yo-Yo

I was out playing games with Teddy again and he is really loving it. All educational games of course but fun and engaging for him nonetheless.

We did some short range Driving game, more of the Touch It game, and we did some Yo-Yo game as well, particularly through gates and he was fine with it. Gates aren't his issue. He was calm and responded well with being driven on a 12 foot lead but he needs to stop coming to me off his own bat. It's like he slowly steps closer and closer and I need to send him away. He also comes to me with the Yo-Yo game; he attempts to every time! Directly after he backs up he comes waltzing over to me and I try to get him to stop but nine times out of ten I'm unsuccessful, so there he is standing right in front of me like, "Aren't I a good boy."

He's the king of the Touch It game now and was great being lead and Yo-Yoed at a walk and run. He's also really taking things in, licking his lips and yawning. I do get the feeling that after we have played a game once he's over it and wants something new, but I want him to grasp each concept well so we cant rush it. He seems very happy with himself lately so I'm wrapped about that!

The photo below is of Mary Jane, MJ for short, who was born three days ago and Teddy was totally besotted. He's adjusted to the new additions being around and is back to his normal self, and he does like to go over to the fence and touch noses with a calf when the opportunity arises.

Teddy Log: #133 - Touch it!

Teddy Log: #133 - Touch it!: I played more games with Teddy this arvo and he really showed what a clever horse he is and also that he bores quite easily. I took him thr...

#133 - Touch it!

I played more games with Teddy this arvo and he really showed what a clever horse he is and also that he bores quite easily. I took him through some Parelli games and then played the Touch It game with him. Basically I had a few obstacles out in the paddock and I would lead him over to each one and get him to touch it with his nose but allow him to come to it himself; no force, just consistent until he worked out what I wanted. If he didn't touch it the first time I would walk him around and back to the object and he would finally work out that he needed to touch it with his nose. As soon as he did it he got a reward scratch in his favourite spot and then we move on to the next. I had an upturned bucket, a coffee table, the big blue ball, a tree and a post.

The first time we did the circuit he only needed gentle prompting once or twice. The second time he did it straight away with each, and the third time he was bored and started scratching himself and eating grass. What a clever boy he is! In between we did some porcupine, yields and driving.

I'm amazed at how casual he is about everything. It kinda doesn't make sense that I can shake a stick right in his face and he is ho hum about it, he'll let me bounce big shiny balls off his back without a blink, he'll walk across plastic tarp in the wind without question and then other times when in the saddle he will be anxious. Is it a riding thing? A pain thing? A gonna-round-up-cows thing? Or an gonna-play-polo thing? I wish I could work out what turns the switch.

I'm doing canter lead changes with my lessons and I so much want to do the same with Teddy, but in the saddle I cant as yet. There must be an answer.

Teddy Log: #132 - tarps, exercise balls and an obstacle cours...

Teddy Log: #132 - tarps, exercise balls and an obstacle cours...: Teddy had a great play today and he experienced a number of different things with me that he hadn't experienced before. I wanted to throw i...

#132 - tarps, exercise balls and an obstacle course

Teddy had a great play today and he experienced a number of different things with me that he hadn't experienced before. I wanted to throw in some confidence building exercises while he was having fun. We reviewed some of the old Parelli games in between exploring a plastic tarp I laid in the middle of the paddock, an obstacle course of chairs he had to do the squeeze game through and an large exercise ball to play with. He was fantastic!

When we approached the paddock I set everything up in he was very alert but not alarmed. While I unrugged him he was busy examining everything at a distance. Then I started giving him scratches and rubbing him down so he was relaxed. I interchanged playing Parelli games and the objects in the paddock. He was backing up with a light touch on the nose and would alternate feet to the side I touched him on as indicated, he was great with his head lowering when asked, he yeided his hind and front quarters well on one side and ok on the other. It's hard not to laugh when you are touching Teddy on the flank to move his bum around and he doesn't move so you increase the pressure to almost trying to touch his bones and all he does is turn his head and look at you like, " you really think I'm gonna move do you?" then lets out a sign like, "Whatever"

I took him around the paddock a number of times. The first time he just sniffed everything and didn't really seem concerned about these new objects, then the second time around he walked between the chairs without a care in the world, he just fit too. The next time around I asked him to walk over the plastic tarp which he did without a problem then he came around and picked up the end of the tarp with his teeth and played with it a bit. I'd let him sniff the exercise ball and then I kicked it to him and he just pushed it with his nose. I was surprised how well he was handling such a bouncy big shine blue rubber ball so I picked it up and held it up to his face - he just sniffed it, so then I started bouncing it off his back and he just stood there as if it was nothing.

For such a unpredictable horse he really showed complete trust in me. The only time he showed any concern was when we were finished and a gust of wind blew the tarp up and the noise startled him a bit. It was a great opportunity for me to take him over to it so he could investigated the tarp monster and he was great; just sniffed it and moved on.

Also, in between, I found all his favourite scratch spots so he was a very content horse. I realise now that I'm going to have to step it up a notch to keep him interested and engaged.

Great job Teddy Bear!

P.S. pic is just an example

Teddy Log: #131 - Time to play! Time to start thinking like a...

Teddy Log: #131 - Time to play! Time to start thinking like a...: Teddy and I need some serious play time. We both need a play partner at the moment because everything is way to serious and demanding; parti...

#131 - Time to play! Time to start thinking like a horse!

Teddy and I need some serious play time. We both need a play partner at the moment because everything is way to serious and demanding; particularly for Teddy with all the attention Gunny is getting. It's also important to keep Teddy stimulated as he can get gregarious and tends to loose his confidence... maybe I do a little too. I will make play a priority for a while.

I went for a lesson with Kim yesterday. Riding in eight degrees in the wind and drizzle isn't much fun, but The Horse Named Dick was really enjoying himself. I took him over a small jump for the first time at a trot and it was fun for both of us! It wasn't the usual log on the ground, it was a cross jump, and The Horse Named Dick was smooth, ears pricked forward and light on his feet. I had warmed up nicely and the sun came out. You could just tell he was right into it and it was great. Then after practising on the jump we were cantering around and he was the fastest he's ever been. This took me by surprise but it was great too. I now know I need to work on my balance at that speed as I could feel myself tensing up so I had to remind myself to relax. I need to see Teddy enjoying himself the same way Dick was too.

Teddy Log: #130 - Tall Teddys, Mini Moos & Pathetic Ponies

Teddy Log: #130 - Tall Teddys, Mini Moos & Pathetic Ponies: While working interstate I came across a group of about 11 horses that were in such bad condition that I sent all the delegates off to lun...

#130 - Tall Teddys, Mini Moos & Pathetic Ponies

While working interstate I came across a group of about 11 horses that were in such bad condition that I sent all the delegates off to lunch while I reported them to the RSPCA in Cairns. There was a palomino stallion pony that would be such a beautiful boy if he was taken care of but he was a mess and had a massive chunk out of his chest that was pussy and scabby and drawing flies. It was literally green on the inside and smelled. There was a colt and a filly that were so full of worms they looked like biaffran children with swollen bellies. There were two mares heavily in foal in a paddock with a large stallion that was so skinny it was sad, and this stallion was also a right bastard! He bullied every horse in the paddock. The mares were eating the little pick that was left among rusty sharp sheets of corrugated iron and barred wire, just waiting to be cut up. There were a few other horses but they were locked in a corral and couldn't come over. And this was a relatively small paddock in between a cultural centre that is a big tourist attraction and a primary school!

On the phone I really made a big deal about the palomino so the authorities would come out straight away and they said they would be there in 24 hours. I hope all went well and they at least treated the wound and had the paddock clear of all the crap - its was a mine field in a trench used to drain water and it was the only place grass was really growing so the mares were trying to get a feed there. Without a doubt they all came over to me in the hope of food.

Ros was with me and said she couldn't believe I would report people so quickly - too bloody right I will! Take care of your animals people or don't get them! They have a right to a happy healthy life just as much as we do!

When I got home from Cairns I was out with Teddy and he was Mr Moody for the first day then came around after that. I took him for a ride around the paddock and did some dressage and I was just trying to get him in the right head space. The session was no better or worse than last time, so at least we are consistant. The next time I rode I went out in the stock saddle and tried the same thing. He was just as stubborn about things to start with but then I couldn't be bothered so just slackened the reins and did some western and he was a heap more happier. I will concentrate on this a bit more and see how we go; see if there is a trail riding horse in him after all. I think I'm confident enough in my riding now to be able to handle what he does as long as he doesn't start rearing, bucking or pigrooting. I've actually never been on a horse that has reared or bucked - bunny hops yes, but serious rearing or bucking - never. I'd be more concerned about the buck but I hope I never have to go there. Teddy's never tried that really with me but if he was to I would suspect he'd be more likely to rear. Lets not put it to the test though.

Then yesterday one of our cows gave birth to our first baby bull. He's a lovely little thing and I've spent some time with them to make sure he is drink ok etc and all is great. I was worried for a moment but Mercedes is proving to be a great mum. Teddy on the other hand has decided that the cows and the calf are of no consequence unless I go over to see them, then he acts like the ultimate show off. I'm not sure what he thinks he's doing but his tail is up in the air and he's prancing around and then he'll chase the cows off. Not good with a newborn at foot and a heffer about to calf any day now! I've put him in the next paddock so he can still be near them but they can have a break from him for a few weeks until the babies get strong.

Teddy Log: #129 - Allergies and Teddy training

Teddy Log: #129 - Allergies and Teddy training: Ok, it's official, I'm allergic to horses. Unbelievable!

I have done the tests and on top of my dust mite allergy, which I already kn...

#129 - Allergies and Teddy training

Ok, it's official, I'm allergic to horses. Unbelievable!

I have done the tests and on top of my dust mite allergy, which I already knew about, horse was the only other thing that came up. I was sure it would be due to a type of grass but I was wrong. Never mind, Teddy isn't going anywhere and I will have as many needles as it takes to fix this. So far it's a needle a fortnight for a total of 8 shots, then I hope to go on a maintenance schedule - if it all goes well, which I'm confident it will. It better be as I want the rest of my life to be around horses!

I've been working Teddy more and things are going OK. I tried the German way of mounting for the first time with Teddy and he objected. Verging on rearing really, so I take it that he would like to stick to the English style LOL!

He actually was getting a bit lazy or stubborn in the last ride where for the first time I had to ask him to go forward. I never thought I would see the day. I got some keepers for the FM bit and put the nose band back on the bridle and he had no problem with that but as for head tossing - it made no difference. At least I can be sure now that the bit is sitting correctly in his mouth and not causing him any issues. Our last ride was spent trying to relax him and then trot consistently for me. He's still a very fast trotter but I work well with it now, just need to smooth this out. Now the weather has improved you would think it was full steam ahead, but I am away for work again next week for seven days. The sun better be shining when I return!

Teddy Log: #128 - England Vs Germany

Teddy Log: #128 - England Vs Germany: "For Christmas Steve gave me some dressage lessons with another instructor named Amber and I finally had my first lesson on Friday morning ..."

#128 - England Vs Germany

For Christmas Steve gave me some dressage lessons with another instructor named Amber and I finally had my first lesson on Friday morning before work.

I've been taking lessons with Kim since January so it was good to get a different perspective, particularly as I'm not too familiar with the differences between the English style of dressage, which Kim teaches, and the Germany style, which Amber teaches.

When I finally found the property I was quite surprised at the differences out of the saddle. To start with Amber had me walk a 16.2 hh thoroughbred out of a gate big enough for people only. It wasn't a farm gate and the horse just fit through. At Kim's even though the horse named Dick is very quiet Kim is very safety conscious so that would never happen. Next Amber had me take the horse to a veranda and tie it with hay twine beside a ride-on lawn mower, so there was room enough just for the horse to stand and a little space in the back. The space was so small that when the horse pooed it literally pooed on Amber's arm! Then she asked me to remove the rugs which I did while she was off doing something else and she had me drop them (it was wearing three!) all on the ground in the only space available - behind the horse's back legs. I brushed the horse and she asked me to saddle up. While I did this she went away to put some music on! This would never happen at Kim's as she has her horse in the centre of a stable with both sides of the horse's head-collar secured from either side, the rugs have a rack, the horses have their own brushes, no sharing like with Amber, and Kim watches everything you do and suggests the best way to do it. At no stage did Amber check what I had done or ask me to put my helmet on. What was of most surprise was that I had to ask to pick the horses hooves! I was waiting for her to ask me to do it but she didn't. Seriously, what if there was a stone in there and then I rode the horse around for an hour until it was bruised and sore? Then while I was cleaning the horses hooves, who at this staged was fully mounted, I see in the corner of my eye Amber walk past me. I look up, Amber has walked off and just left the reins over the horses head, completely loose! I was starting to worry about her at this stage.

Then we went into the arena and I got a completely different view of Amber. She was excellent at explaining what she wanted, how to go about things and the reasons why and was just as engaged as Kim is. I also discovered a new way of mounting (German style) and the subtle variations on technique, some of which I thought were better than with English dressage.

When we left the arena I was still on the horse and she decided to take us for a little walk so I followed Amber around. There was a Shetland pony in a dam that apparently isn't usually there and this caused the horse I was riding great surprise so he became hyper alert and tensed up. I have ridden long enough to know when a horse is about to be unpredictable so I shortened the reins just a touch in case something happened and I just relaxed knowing this would help the horse relax. I was kind of amused when Amber tried to act like everything was find but subtly reached for the horses mouth and kept a tight hold! She clearly didn't want me to know that she had concerns.

So after the lesson I can say the bottom line is Amber is an excellent instructor and I look forward to my next lesson with her. She certainly knows her stuff in the saddle, However, if I had a child or an inexperience person going for a lesson I wouldn't recommend her due to safety concerns. A bit too laid back with dogs running around. All horse people know how new things can so easily startle a horse, .

I'd love to be able to combine the two disciplines of English and German to get the perfect fit for myself. I can see great aspects in both. When I get the float (which I have put a deposit on!) I will also be taking Teddy to ARC for a lesson with a different instructor once a month. Then I can take the best bits from all to get the best result for me and Teddy.

#127 - the best lesson ever! Because it was on Teddy!

It felt like Christmas for me today! My first lesson on Teddy and it was at home in our front paddock. I learned so much about myself and Teddy that we have already improved out of sight. I couldn't be happier.

It appears the head tossing is all about Teddy being a tense/nervous horse. I know he is a uptight boy but now I know how to reassure him while riding. As I suspected I was contributing to the problem with my methods but now I have some strategies to work on to get us through this, at least to a better degree than we are now. I don't expect miracles and that we will be trail riding off into the sunset any time soon, or even ever! But I know we will get better and better.

It will be slow steps but they're all steps in the right direction.

We didn't canter today, but we spent over half our time just getting him comfortable at a walk so he didn't head toss and then we worked him in trot. I was mainly trotting around in a circle and would do as many as I could without restricting him but keeping the reins in the correct position at the same time. I'm a bit grabby and I'll be working on fixing that. I am a fair way from perfecting this but I can see what a marked difference it is making already.

After the lesson Kim rode him and kept him more consistent at a trot then I could but he was in the same place in his head. I did notice a few moments where he was completely at ease and then for reasons only Teddy would know he tensed up again. When I say tense up I don't mean he misbehaved or I felt like he was going to bolt off or anything. It's just an aura he has about him that projects as "I'm not totally comfortable about this." By the time I got off him he had taken about a 180 turn toward the positive. Then when Kim rode him he probably dropped back to 90 at the very start before getting back to 180 again at the end. Just the difference in rider was enough to cause him tension.

I was very proud of Teddy today and hope that we can continue with lessons together as much as possible. He earnt his nudie run today!

Go Team Teddy!

#126 - When it all comes together!

What a great ride I had today - everything was coming together and it felt fantastic!

It was an unusually mild day for this time of year so I worked up quite a sweat perfecting steering with my seat at a rising trot and cantering lead changes. It was quite hard getting everything that I needed to do correct and in sync, and with the horse named Dick having a preferred cantering lead, going in the opposite direction was difficult. It was reassuring to know that in this direction he will fall out of step 99 times out of 100 and be like that for anyone.

The most challenging bit for me was feeling with my body what the horses legs are doing at a canter. Where he puts his feet and when are things that I need to know about.

My Sunshine Paddock training of "lean back and hold on" hasn't helped me a bit LOL! Imaging my surprise when a few months back I went into my first canter under Kim's instruction and I wasn't allowed to lean back at all! And forget about watching the horse, I'm not allowed to even look at him! I started off feeling I was like Jason McLean on Pirate - flapping my arms at the side as I cantered along - well I really wasn't that bad to be exact. If the average person saw me they probably wouldn't have thought twice about it, but I quickly learned that my elbows aren't allowed to leave the side of my body and it was quite an adjustment.

But now I'm transitioning well, I'm straight in all manner of speaking (yep I even head tilt on a horse!), I keep the horse straight, and best of all, I'm comfortable doing it.

I'm not up to that with Teddy but I know we will get there! I cant wait!

#125 - filming that just didn't work

#124 - But he's a horse!

It seems that a horse wanting to eat hay is just not on when it's meant for the cows!

I left Teddy's feed in the front paddock but he didn't got to it by the time we took hay out to the cows. On the way to the back paddock we walked right past Teddy with the hay practically under his nose. By the time we threw it out for the cows Teddy came and started eating it.

Steve cracked it!

Why Steve didn't think that a HORSE would want to EAT HAY is beyond me!

I took Teddy by the coat and lead him away and then he followed me to his feed. Shapelle and Mercedes got their hay after all. Crisis over!

Teddy Log: #123 - a giddyup weekend!

Teddy Log: #123 - a giddyup weekend!: "The woman holding this horse is about 5 foot 6 or 7. Now that's a big boy! ****** I've had a very horsey weekend, which I love. Yesterday T..."

#123 - a giddyup weekend!

The woman holding this horse is about 5 foot 6 or 7. Now that's a big boy!

******

I've had a very horsey weekend, which I love. Yesterday Teddy and I had a great ride after my initial problems with him stepping away from the mounting coffee table. Once that was overcome it was great, but while it lasted it was total frustration! I just cant get enough ground work in to correct this due to all the rain we've been having. I'll keep at it.

I tested how well Teddy would serpentine through the witches hats I had set out. This was done using only my butt as his guide. He did it that well that I had him doing complete circles around each witches hat before changing direction to the next hat. I'd change the direction of each circle and mix it up, keeping him thinking as much as I could. He was loving it. We would trot up the side of the fence to do the next series of exercises and he went really well, only starting to toss his head at the trotting stage. His motion in trot was a lot smoother then it has been and that is probably a direct result of my improvements in riding.

Today I went for a coaching ride on the horse named Dick and I was learning how to do a transition from trot to walk then back into trot without using my hands or arms to slow him down or bring him to a halt. It was a while before it felt normal to use my body to ask these things of a horse as I am used to pulling a horse up by pulling back on the reins with my hands. This new approach worked very well and I can see how I really need to think about "as little as possible to just enough" when asking a horse to do something. The horse named Dick is a school horse so he tends to take any opportunity he can to go from trotting to a complete stop! Once I worked out this technique (albeit my first lesson trying) it was great to not pivot forward when the horse named Dick would transition from trot to stop. I'm now thinking of this part of my riding in a whole new light.

This got me wondering about Teddy and his head tossing on the drive home. I think it may be a case of Teddy only knowing how to be stopped with the position of the rider's body and weight shift rather than having the reins pulled back to slow him down or bring him to a halt. I have always pulled on the reins with him so this could explain why he tosses his head when I do this... a bit like Teddy saying "what are you pulling on my mouth for? What do you want from me?!" It will be interesting to see how Teddy responds on our next ride when I put this to the test. After all, Teddy has proven to be excellent with leg aids, weight shifts and he will change direction just with the turn of my head. I can't wait to see if this is the case and I finally have an answer to his head tossing. I best not get my hopes up yet though.

The only down side this week has been the delay, or even the possible inability, to get my horse float as the one I had lined up has now doubled in price. I don't have the extra money now so I hope I get a great tax return and can get it as soon as possible! If not that one then maybe another, though I really like this one and know it's in great order.

Also I have had my allergy in a shocking way. After riding Teddy yesterday I had some friends over and I was itching and sneezing and spluttering all night, which was kind of embarrassing. I woke this morning to discover that the symptoms hadn't gone away and it progressively got worse as the day went on. Right now I am typing this with Steve telling me I look as pale as a ghost with puffy red eyes and red nose... or as he so gently put it, "you look shocking!" The tears haven't stopped and the sneezing is so frequent that I sometimes wonder if the latest sneeze round will ever stop! But then again, how many people will just sneeze once? Six sneezes in a row gets a bit much though! It's a strange time of the year to be like this so I think that it may be the result of a winter flowering plant - possibly a wattle tree or something like that. My mum was allergic to jasmine but I don't think I've inherited that. I've definitely got something that is in my paddocks because I don't get this at Kim's place unless I've gone there from home. When I go to a lesson after work I don't have any real problem. I'll have to go back to the allergist as soon as I can as I don't want this interfering with my time with Teddy, the weather is doing that enough as it is.

#122 - It felt great to be riding Teddy again!

It's been a while since Teddy and I have had a ride so when I went to get him he was elusive. It wasn't like he ran away or anything he just seemed wary and standoffish.

I saddled him up and did some ground work with him and he was so hyper he was rearing/bunny hopping along near the front fence when he heard a car come. I took it easy and asked him to lower his head whenever we stopped and it only took a few goes for him to trust me enough to keep those nasty cars away from him and relax.

In the saddle it was the Teddy of old; continual head tossing and extremely forward, so the lesson for today was to walk. Am I the only person who has a horse that wont walk?

I made him stop completely whenever he broke from walk into trot without being asked. He didn't really accept that but improved slightly. Next I went through the steering with my butt cheeks exercise and I discovered he knows it well. Keeping him working with continual changes only improved his head tossing slightly at the end or it could have been simply that he was tired of doing it, I dont know. If it wasn't for the head tossing I'd say he did fairly well under the circumstances.

After when he was pampered, rested and sent on his way I thought I'd go get his feed. My property's paddocks form a horseshoe shape around the house and we were in the front paddock which is right beside the shed the feed is in. I went to get the feed and when I got back Teddy saw me with the bucket and ran through the paddock, down the the side of the property, around the back paddock and into the paddock on the right, stopping right beside his feed bowl!

What a dag! He could have eaten from the bucket I had the feed in but he's so used to eating from his bowl he must have thought he better get to it quick smart or he'd miss out! As I'm walking over to him he's knickering to me as if to say, "Come on! I want what you go in that bucket!"

You gotta love him!

#121 - the fraidycat horse!

I was feeding Teddy and doing his rug in the front paddock this morning while the electrician was at work. Teddy was happily eating away when the electrician came to get a ladder off the top of his car. The sound or something scared the absolute crap out of poor Teddy! He jumped and bolted from the front paddock all the way to the back of the back paddock! The cows saw him coming and this scared the hell out of them so the started running across the back paddock and the dogs were in their paddock having a fit!

Teddy finally stopped and just stood by the far back fence line looking at me. I called him but he just stood there. I had to laugh. I went and got some carrots but that didn't entice him either. Finally the electrican left and Teddy came moseying back to the front paddock to finish his feed as if nothing had happened.

What a big baby!

#120 - so ground work it is!

It's still busy and wet in my neck of the woods so I have only been having a dressage lesson once a week and doing ground work with Teddy. Even the arena across the road is water logged. He's been a good boy in all ways, so I have been doing the ground work in the front paddock by the roadside as there is evening traffic and it will get him used to the sound of trucks. He has been pretty good, only one truck gave him a fright on Friday but we stuck to it and he worked wonderfully. I have also been training him to run at my side without getting frisky and playing about. I think he's got that one covered as it's easy for him. It's great to know that I keep his attention that way.

Now I am going to arrange to borrow the float and start working him with that. Being an ex polo horse he is used to be trucked in large groups so he needs to learn that float are ok, that only a window is ok and traveling forward is ok. It should be interesting.

#119 - finally the days will start to get longer!

The weather has been so terrible lately it's been difficult to do anything with Teddy. The other night the wind was so bad that Teddy was calling out and running round in the dark. I lay in bed listening to him thunder past from the back paddock. I went out to the veranda and called out for him to calm down and he went dead silent. I couldn't see him but the wind was whipping around in circles and I really felt for him as a horse prefers to turn their back on the wind and rain and he had nowhere to turn. I talked calmly and he didn't make a move - just listened. I went back to bed and just as I was about to drop off to sleep he started neighing again! I just had to ignore it and the wind finally died down.

I can tell you that a roaring wind and neighing horse is a haunting sound.

Hopefully I will get more time when the weather improves to work with him. Tonight I made it home with enough light to give him a good brush and oil the crack in his hoof (farrier came out on the weekend and it's superfical). I hope to get home at the same time all this week so I can do more ground work with him but I have unexpectedly been given 17 high school girls to mentor for the week, that means no prep time, so I doubt I'll have much time for anything else. This weeks goal will still be to leave work on time!

Teddy Log: #118 - Playing games in the cold

Teddy Log: #118 - Playing games in the cold: "My poor Teddy Bear has had to deal with my absence and then when I got home he had to wait for me to overcome my sickness. I'm still not co..."

#118 - Playing games in the cold

My poor Teddy Bear has had to deal with my absence and then when I got home he had to wait for me to overcome my sickness. I'm still not completely better - about half way there - but I've been to work so I have no excuses not to spend time with him no matter how crappy I feel.

After work I went out in the freezing cold; this is probably the coldest day I've had in Kyneton with this frosty wind chill factor. I put out his feed and called him from the furthest end of the paddock. He came mozzying so I meet him half way and started running around to keep warm and calling him to follow me. He did! He was trotting back and forth and around me. I'd stop and he'd walk over and get a pat, or fake one out, and then I'd run off again and he'd follow. We played our little game of chasey and then checked on the cows. Surprisingly he didn't try to round the cows up this time! Then on the way back to the house I did the stop/start walking game and each time I stopped he'd stop beside me. He was really loving the interaction. I know he needed the attention as Steve would just leave the feed out for him and check he was ok. I don't think he spent any time with him at all. Even more reason to get him a friend when I can.

I hope the weather improves as soon as I do so I can play more with him. The farrier will keep him entertained tomorrow and if the rain has its breaks at the right times I'll do some ground work with him until we are both up for a ride.

Winter sucks. Note to self - buy more winter clothes!

#117 - Home from Japan and Teddy is a bit shirty with me

I got home from Japan late at night so I couldn't see Teddy until the next day after work. He came up to me as usual but there was no little neighs or anything like that, which I am used to. He seemed unhappy; maybe because I had gone and left him with Steve who basically leaves food out for him and goes.

I explained to Teddy that we now have a new ute so we just have to wait for the float then we are off learning together. He just ate his feed. It was sad. Poor Teddy feels neglected, I will have to make this a special weekend for him.

Teddy Log: #116 - Car taken care of - now for the float...

Teddy Log: #116 - Car taken care of - now for the float...: "I have settled on a 2010 Ford Falcon Ute as my new car and above is the picture of the one I have signed for (though if Bendigo Ford come ba..."

#116 - Car taken care of - now for the float...

I have settled on a 2010 Ford Falcon Ute as my new car and above is the picture of the one I have signed for (though if Bendigo Ford come back with a better offer that might change).

It's a beauty and the reason I picked it is because it has the towing capacity I need, has a Hayman Reese tow bar and electric brake unit (being installed for me), dedicated gas, full rego, 3 year warranty and it isn't white! Also because it's totally country! The dedicated, factory installed gas is the main reason I looked at the Fords; that and because my friend JP never shuts up about the wonders of his favourite car FORD.

I have also got a great float lined up, which is at an amazing price and in excellent condition. It belongs to a friend who is having a new float made so she is selling hers on to me. I wont be able to get it until her new one is made and delivered as she has five horses and will need to have something on hand in case of emergency. This is fine by me as I've already waiting this long so a little longer wont hurt. It also gives me time to add more to the kitty, though I found some extra money that I had put aside to take a friend away as a birthday gift (taken from the float kitty), but it doesn't look like that's going to happen now so I wont have to save that bit harder.

All this means Teddy and I will be getting our lessons together soonish! Yay!

Last night I rode the horse named Dick and had a great time. He really is a great horse, I will miss riding him when I get Teddy to Kim's place but I am so keen to work with Teddy with a professional that the horse named Dick will just have to watch from the sidelines. I can guarantee he wont mind a bit.

As for the riding... I'm riding well, not great, but well. I get on like it's second nature, feel totally comfortable in the saddle, can feel the diagonal each time, trot and canter smoothly and have pretty good balance, even over logs. I have also managed to steer with my butt... well sort of. I will work on honing these skills and look forward to what comes next. I'm actually feeling that confident that if the weather holds out on Sunday I will take Teddy out and explore Rollinson Reserve.

#115 - Dressage equals head tossing!

Finally I'm back on Teddy Log. Google had an issue but now it appears to be fixed.

I have been away for work and I caught another cold so I haven't been riding Teddy much. I have had my lessons and they are going well but last night was the first time in two weeks that I've saddled Teddy up.

I'd been using the stock saddle prior, for about a month due to his girthiness, but as he seems to be fine I got the GP saddle out and saddled up last night with the hope of doing some dressage. It was getting dark so I didn't have a heap of time and I would have preferred to have done some ground work or at least given him a quick lunge just to warm him up a bit but I couldn't, so I just mounted and walked him. He was in such a hurry it was silly. I was asking him to relax but he couldn't and the head tossing started again and didn't stop. I had him collected to see how he'd be with the dressage but he clearly wasn't into it. We trotted around for a while while I tried to get him into a walk but I wasn't getting very far, he'd walk a few steps then go back into trot. My balance was good and I didn't have any concerns for myself but I definitely wanted Teddy to relax and it just wasn't going to happen last night. Talk about being forward!

He was a good boy nonetheless. I think that saddle or girth may not be right for him as he was reacting with it being done up so I will look at getting either a pressure ease girth for it, or because it has short points I might have to sell it if the pressure ease girths don't come in such a big length. I will investigate and see what is the best option.

At least we got back into the saddle. I am so looking forward to getting my car and float so I can take him to have lessons with me, that way we can both be trained. Hopefully it wont be much longer to wait. I think the car may be just around the corner if I play my cards right. Wish me luck!

#114 - Had a wonderful ride last night!

I rode the horse named Dick last night and it was one of my better rides, particularly as I am finally starting to overcome this cold and I didn't feel as bad as the last time I rode.

I saddled up around 4.45pm and it was a beautiful night with a red sky so I felt like I was riding into the sunset! And all the horses on the property, about 50 of them, were being fed around me so they were all frisky. It was nice watching foals leaping in the distance while I cantered along.

Most importantly I learn that not only do I need to use my outer leg as an aid to canter but also that I must keep it there and have my inner leg forward. This is really important and is something that I wasn't aware of as it tells the horse that you want it to keep going in the canter. It could explain why Teddy stops so abruptly when I set him off into canter. I have been using the leg aid to start him and he would go straight into canter like a legend but then he would just stop. I thought it might be due to the position of the reins but when we ride tomorrow, weather permitting, I will see if its due to my leg aid not remaining at his side.

It will be interesting to see what the result is and how he responds. At least I now feel like I've got everything coordinated.

#114 - still too sick to horse around

This damn cold has got me so good that I haven't been able to do much with Teddy. My last ride was lopsided due to having blocked ears so until I'm better I will stay out of the saddle and have my feet firmly on the ground - not as far to fall!

Teddy Log: #113 - How to steer a horse with your butt!

Teddy Log: #113 - How to steer a horse with your butt!: "Yep it's true, today I learned how to steer a horse using nothing but my butt cheeks and the slightest tilt of the hips. I am supposed to ..."

#113 - How to steer a horse with your butt!

Yep it's true, today I learned how to steer a horse using nothing but my butt cheeks and the slightest tilt of the hips. I am supposed to master this new technique over time at a walk, sitting trot, rising trot and a canter! It appears to be that as a dressage rider you need to be a contortionist as well!

On a cuter note, the pictures above are of a newborn foal from the shetland pony stud down the road from Aurum. The owners are away so these two are being cared for my Kim at her property. Aren't they just gorgeous!

I wish you could see the scale of these two. The mum is a full grown shetland at a height of about 9 to 10 hands high or approximately 90 - 100 cm, so as you can see from the footage below the filly can walk under her mum's belly! I'd guess that she is about 40 - 50 cm tall! Too cute! She was having a dream while I was watching her and must have been going for a little gallop as she had her little legs going! I wanted to put her in my car and take her home with me!

#112 - Look where you're going Teddy!!!!

I took Teddy for a ride after work today and he was very well behaved. He was pretty good with mounting and on the ground he was near perfect. The moment we got into a canter he started head tossing and this made him not look where he's going and he stumbled in a small ditch. I managed to stay on! Yay me!

What I really want to do now is have my lessons on Teddy but not having a float is preventing me from doing so. I am trying to get the money together to get one but in the meantime I have contacted Amber Smeenk as Steve got me two lessons with her for Christmas. She has agreed to come around here and have those lesson with me riding Teddy across the road at the arena . I hope she has some ideas about how to tackle this head tossing.

Later when I have my float I will take Teddy to Kim's or find out if the girl from Bendigo is still interested in coming to Kyneton so Kim can come here too. I hope it's soon than later.

#111 - Oh how I missed you Teddy Bear!

After work today I saw Teddy for the first time since Saturday and it made me realise how much I love that horse! We had a chat and I told him about my work trip to Cairns while he ate his tea and the sun started to set. I was meant to go to a dressage lesson after work but seeing as I have my own horse who I missed so much it wouldn't have made sense to be with another horse so I came home instead. I hope the rain stays away so we can go for a ride this weekend.

#110 - riding in the autumn sunshine

I had a lesson on the horse named Dick this morning and it was a challenge. I don't know if it's because I haven't ridden him in a month or the new arena had gotten him out of sorts but he was trying everything on. We concentrated mainly on the canter and stretching out his legs at a trot to lengthen his stride. It was interesting but difficult getting a horse that just wasn't into the ride to go through witch hats and sticking to the 12 metre markers that I was being instructed to do paces at when called out.

I'd love to try and practise a modified version of these exercises on Teddy but I have to go interstate on business tomorrow morning and will be gone for a few days so Steve will be left on farm duty. When it comes to Teddy I think this will pretty much be Steve looking out the window to make sure nothing terrible has happened to him and that's it.

So it looks like I wont be back in the saddle until Thursday (late meeting Wednesday night). Wouldn't it be great to not have to work! I can dream all about it because that's as close to retirement that I'm likely to get for quite a while.

P.S. I like the pic of Teddy with the sun behind him.

#109 - You have to be quick these days!

That horse I was looking at this weekend is already gone! Damn! You have to be quick!

Not so lucky for me when I have to work and cant get to visit places until the weekend. But Teddy doesn't seem to mind, when I told him he was following me through the paddock and I was chatting away, I said a new horse might be coming and he stopped dead in his tracks! I know it was a coincidence but it did make me laugh!

As for the horse, ahh well wasn't meant to be.

#108 - Your horse can only be as brave as you are

Another coffee table lesson for Teddy and we had a success! I draped myself over him and he didn't move a muscle until I decided to stop. It's one big step forward.

I've noticed that he's preferring to do it from the usual side I mount from the coffee table so next time I will do it on the opposite side, then start trying from different locations. Then it will be time to saddle up. Actually the timing is pretty good as I received my new gullet for the stock saddle in the mail today so I will have fitted that and be ready to ride.

The other big new is I'm looking at another horse this week. If this works out I will have another stock horse to keep Teddy company as well as one very experienced in dressage so I can continue learning dressage on the new horse and do western riding with Teddy, which I think he is more suited to. I'll also be able to go to ARC while Teddy learns to curb his excitement. The new horse is bigger and wiser than Teddy too so he might learn a few things from this potential new paddock mate.

There are no guarantees this horse is going to be suitable for me yet as I haven't even met him but I'm looking forward to finding out. Oh yeah, Teddy's no longer for sale. I want to keep my bear.

#107 -If your horse says no, you either asked the wrong question or asked the question wrong

I had a lot of guests over for a BBQ on Easter Saturday and Teddy enjoyed all the attention that was heaped upon him. After the initial comments of "He's huge!", "I didn't realise he was so big" and "I'll stay on this side of the gate thanks" and few brave souls including a 13 year old girl and a one year old in her mother's arms came into the paddock with me to see for themselves what a sweet soul my Teddy really is.

I think at times this log does Teddy an injustice and portrays him as a maniac, which isn't the case at all; he's just very bright and at times can have other ideas about the way things should work. He also can be a bit stubborn or excitable. As Maxwell Smart once said, "Give him an inch and he thinks he's a ruler!" - Well that can be Teddy! But 70% of the time he is a well behaved boy who tries very hard and the other 30% - well he has me as an owner and I'm always learning how to ask the right questions to get the desired response. I never claimed to be an expert horse trainer but I'm doing pretty damn well so far.

Tamsyn, the 13 year old, had a nice time learning how to lead a horse, the baby adored reaching out and patting Teddy and Jen almost let her finger become Teddy's lunch! Everyone was patting Teddy and giving him treats so he was lapping it all up.

Then yesterday I had two friends, Caroline (aka Crow) and Shane spend the night and Crow came out with me while I did more ground work with Teddy. I continued on with the mounting coffee table exercises and he was much better. No circling the table this time and each time he got in the correct position and stood still while I leaning over him. I already think that the next lesson will include me draping myself over his back and seeing how long he will stand for and build on the time. For a second lesson he's doing extremely well though.

#106 - Fun at the mounting coffee table

I'm slowly recovering from this flu so I went out and worked with Teddy for the first time in days; this was prompted by me looking out the window to find him rounding up our cows. The poor boy must be a little bored.

I've be thinking about how I'm going to tackle his mounting problem and head tossing at a canter problem but as I wasn't riding today I started work on the mounting.

I took him out with my carrot stick and on a 12 foot lead and did some ground work with him. He started off distracted by the paddock across the road which I have discovered has a horse in it now so there were no surprises there, however what was a surprise was the neighbouring property's cows held a little more appeal to him. He is totally fascinated by cows the weird horse! So this time to get him focused I had him trotting along side me as I jogged and stopping at my side when asked. Quickly we went on to our regular ground work but this time I included the mounting coffee table in the mix.

I stood on the coffee table and got him to stand still beside it, if he stepped sideways I took the carrot stick and tapped his far hind quarters toward me. At first he resisted and just kept walking around the coffee table. As soon as he got to the right spot in a mounting position I praised him with heaps of rubs, jumped off the coffee table and took him to do another activity. Then I went back to the coffee table and repeated the exercise but adding a wobble of his withers to insure his feet were planted. When it worked, again I praised him, jumped off the coffee table and played a different game. Back at the coffee table we ended with me draping my body over his back. He stood still for just a moment and then I took the pressure off and gave him praise and a bit of liquorice! We played a few more games and then called it a day.

Teddy did pretty good today though there was some resistance at times. I'm sure after a few lessons he will get the idea of what I expect of him. Once that happens I will add other things around the paddock that I might like to mount from and teach him to allow me to drape myself over his back at each new area so that he doesn't associate the coffee table as the place he's getting jumped on, but also a place he might have some fun and affection.

When I go for a ride I will discover if this all translates into actually mounting in the saddle. I can't see why it wouldn't.

Well done Teddy Bear!

#105 - What to do when you're sick with the flu?

Once again my plans had to change as I've got the flu and am only getting up to relieve the ache in my back. So what to do? I should be at work and then coming home and riding Teddy and improving on our saddle work but instead I'm online splicing little bits of video footage that I have of him until I need a lie down.

This footage wouldn't normally see the light of day because I look so ridiculous in those clothes that I threw on the other week to catch Teddy... but what can I say... now I just don't give a toss what I look like! I must be sick! LOL!

So here is a quick demonstration of Teddy who has been learning that he is not to walk past me but along side me and that he needs to stop along side me when I stop. The test this day was would he do it while being loose and able to do as he pleased. I had never done it loose before. So will he know what to do or even care to try? Watch and see.