For the fourth consecutive day I have walked up to Teddy and put the halter on him without an issue - no tricks, no bluffs, no traps, nothing - halter in hand and a reward at the end. I'm very happy this is working so well and we have found that one thing that he thinks is worth it. No chaff, oats, carrots etc for this boy; liquorice is the go!
After work today I tacked up Teddy and he behaved wonderfully. Then I decided to use my bridle with a simple snaffle, I took the noseband off, I put the long reins on and mounted with one goal - to comb the reins over and over and over again and see how he responded.
My mounting block is in another paddock to the hallway where I wanted to do this exercise so I rode Teddy back to the hallway on as loose a rein as I could without feeling unsafe, to see how he would behave. I wasn't going to give him his head straight off without a plan as he has been unpredictable in the past. This time however, he pretty much had his whole head but I had the reins with my arms outstretched but still in control. He was fine. He wasn't quite sure if he should run off or not so the moment he gathered too much pace without me asking I combed the rein to the side. Within about five minutes he got it and was perfect.
When I say he got it I have to emphasis here that the whole feel to his body changed and I felt him relax - truly relax. It is probably the first time I've felt this from him while riding. My long reins are the kind that can allow him to put his head down and eat grass while I remain completely straight in the saddle with the reins in my hands. He was so relaxed that he actually stood still with me resting the reins on his neck for as long as I wanted! I was stunned! No jumping, fidgeting, anything. Completely still. He actually went to eat grass after a while he was that relaxed!
I continued the exercise combing the reins briefly then I decided to give him his head completely and just point him in the direction of the open front paddock and see what he did. He calmly walked off in that direction and if he steered off course I neck reined in the slightest way and he followed my request. I tried the other direction and he responded to that too, so out of curiosity I neck reined in a full circle - he pirouetted!
I excitedly called Steve out to watch, reminding him that I was talking about and showing him Teddy as he is today and Teddy may have a different plan for tomorrow. The fact I was saying to Steve "Look! Look! He's standing still!" may sound odd to some but to me it was amazing. He didn't even toss his head once and I was using a snaffle bit! I took him back to the hallway and combed the reins as lightly as possible in each direction, in circles, forward and to a complete and steady halt and he was great at it. AND WITH NO HEAD TOSSING! Seriously!
What I have learned today is Teddy can do dressage as I was told, that is obvious, but he clearly doesn't work well in a frame like I have been riding him and this could well be the reason for his head tossing. Even though I've had him seen by a vet, chiropractor, healer, dentist and farriers he may well have pain due to the carriage of his head in dressage. Or he may just think dressage sucks - who knows! I'm learning dressage as its the greatest teacher of balance not because I want to go in comps. Also what I know is Teddy has done polocrosse, jumping and hunting as well - I have been told all about this - but why no-one told me my Stockhorse is actually Stockhorse trained is beyond me! He certainly didn't learn to neck rein and circle like that on his own! Someone somewhere had to have taught him.
I remember when he first got here I had him in the paddock with the cows and he cornered them against the fence. I thought as no-one had ever mentioned stock work and I had spoken at length with his two previous owners (the only two people who have owned him as one was his breeder) that this behaviour must be deeply ingrained in the breed. It wasn't like he did it non-stop or anything, just a couple of times, but I do remember thinking it.
Now Teddy and I have something to work with and I'm wrapped! I hope that we continue on this path and I can adjust my training to suit Teddy's skills. It's early days yet (actually just a day LOL!) but if things go well my beautiful boy will be staying right here with me because the ad to sell him is for a dressage horse or an all rounder! He's got the all rounder part down pat but if dressage is a source of discomfort for him I will have to rethink what is the best thing for him.
Maybe I'm the best thing for him after all!
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