#187 - Float training with Norm Glenn

Last weekend saw the start of my float training with Gran and a local horse trainer named Norm Glenn. I found Norm to be a great trainer with good sensible methods. He is also a good teacher which is a perfect combination. I say this as I have see a lot of accomplished horse people who just don't know how to explain themselves well and this just causes more stress and wasted time, resulting in everyone walking away unhappy.

Gran had more issues than I thought so after last weekend's non-stop half day training session I was required to reinforce the training everyday. I found this was successful but was still taking up to an hour each day just to close the tail gate, that I needed to lead her in to the float if I wanted it to be easier, I didn't feel totally safe doing it and it was very stressful. So I called Norm back and today we spent another two hours working through the problems and discovering ways that would best suit Gran to accept the float and load well. This is one of the reasons I like Norm. He doesn't have one or two methods and sticks to them, he nuts it out and works with the horse and the owner to find something that works. When I rang him to come back I was half expecting to hear, "Just persevere and it will eventually work" and if I had I would not have been happy, but thankfully he didn't, he said, "Ok, let's try something else."

This morning's session was extremely successful with Gran self loading and me not even entering the float,  and she learned to stand still until asked to come out. This allowed me to close the tail gate very easily and we even got to the stage where, after being loaded, I would ask her to unload and she would stay in the float! I had to guide her step-by-step out of the float on my terms.  This is exactly what I wanted.

Looking back over these two sessions I think that last weekend was more like watching Gran just get tired over the hours as I didn't see the complete acceptance that this was something she just has to do. There was still a definite, "stuff you!" vibe about her. Today it was like something clicked in her mind and you could not only see it but feel a completely different and calmer "accepting" vibe come off of her. I am now confident that we have achieved an attitude shift in Gran, but the only way I will know for sure will be over the next few days, even weeks.

The difference in method this time around was that she had no choices because it was felt that there wasn't a fear of the float from her or other major issues, that we had work through all that the last time around, and it was more she was trying to call the shots but planting her feet; in a way shutting down. It seemed to be like she was think she didn't want to do it so she wasn't going to do it. Today, the moment she refused the pressure was on within a half a second until she complied. Every move of the head was instantly redirected, every back away was met with all aids pointing in one direction - into the float - and the only time the pressure was released was, obviously, the moment she complied, or when her head was down and she was checking something out while licking her lips and chewing. No dressage whip was used to tap her anywhere as it proved to make the situation worse. This was all halter and lead rope work. All redirecting. I was taught to be forceful and quicker without being violent or punishing (either of which I would never tolerate). Actually, speed in my response was probably the key.  

I also discovered what a flexible horse she is, she's almost a contortionist! She can turn the whole front of her massive frame into a horseshoe shape in an attempt to look outside the back of the float and she can stay there as long as she likes. To look at her you would think there would be no way she could manage such a feat but, I kid you not, her front feet are almost level with her back feet and she is in a perfect horseshoe shape inside a regular double float! It would almost be comical if it wasn't for her trying to complete the turn and leave the float head first! I actually think that she would follow through with this idea if it weren't for me preventing her! She also does this in the float when traveling so now she is on a very short lead.

Where to from here? Continue to practice. If tomorrow goes well I will have my lesson at Kim's and take Gran in the float, but that will only happen if I'm totally comfortable with it.

Below is some footage of the first training session. Unfortunately Steve was not available to film the end of that day and was unable to capture anything today, and half the time I am learning to load Gran. It was filmed on a very windy day and I have sped the footage up just because it can be kind of boring. But what you will see is what she was like at the start - very little rearing or kicking or bucking, though it's there, but more refusal to go in and/or stay in the float. Also her trying, in her plodder way, to push people around. The main problem was that she could do the 'half in half out' or 'in for 30 seconds' things for literally hours on end. HOURS! She would just wear people out. Also this was before we discovered that she responded better without a dressage whip in hand.

A hell of a lot of progress was made and I will hopefully film an "After" portion in the next few days to demonstrate the difference. 

#186 - Gran has a big day tomorrow

I heard back from the previous owner who said she was too busy to come and show me how she floated Gran and suggested I get a professional out to teach me how to handle her. I assured her that it wasn't my handling skills that were in question! The fact that I've already had professional horse handles/breeder/ Equestrian Australia qualified coaches out and they couldn't get her in the float is evidence enough to me that it isn't about handling skills.  I know how to handle a horse and I'm sure the professionals do too, they have been doing it their whole lives! Gran simply has floating issues. Period. Telling me she scrambled once is not disclosure either!

Anyway, Gran has a big day tomorrow as I am paying good money to have Norm Glenn out to reeducate her to go in the float.

http://www.normglenn.com/

I have had a lot of good feedback about his methods and have been told he is the go-to-guy in the region for solving horse problems. So fingers crossed this works because if it doesn't I won't be happy in will be heading down avenues I would prefer not to.

The photo is of Norm doing his thing with another horse. Tomorrow I intend to have photos and video of Gran doing the same thing - self loading!

I am feeling positive!

#185 - Can't I trust anyone?

I think I'm a sucker! Why oh why do I trust people? Gran is not floating and I was told she had one scrambling issue in her life and otherwise she floated well. And that was just a scramble, she never had floating issues or gone down in the float, just once she scrambled "a little bit" I was told. I believed it and even called the people who raised her to see how they thought she floated, just to be sure. They said no problem and that she had been to many comps in a double front loader float, just like mine, without problem. I took this as a good sign. Who won't?

At the previous owners property I asked if we could load her and the owner said she didn't have time to hook the car up and I believe her; having kids and all. Gran was delivered here and I believed it was for the previous owner to be sure she was coming to the right place - a good, caring home on a well maintained property. She was down in the float when she got here.  I was told that they overshot my driveway so did a u-turn a bit up the road at the Bushland Resort and they must of taken the corner too quickly and she went down then. I believed them. I was more concerned about what to do when a horse is down in a float as I'd never been in that situation before and also the owner was so upset I just wanted things to be ok. She was crying and her husband was trying to calm her and I really felt bad for her. I would have  been upset too. Gran got up in the float and unloaded herself and just stood there without a care in the world. I thought it was just a bad situation that could have happened to anyone. Maybe I should never have excepted her in that situation but I did. I  trusted that it would be ok.

Gran has been here just over a month and a half and I've tried to load her many times and so has my instructor. My whole holidays of riding was cancelled because I couldn't get her on the float to take her anywhere. She will walk in but wont stay there. Gran has had two solid hour long sessions to load with a EA qualified coach and she still wont stay in the float. She's had a number of sessions with me but still wont stay there. The previous owner said she loads fine you just need to tap her on the legs but the getting in the float isn't the problem its the staying on and closing up. And Gran shows on signs she is scared in there, she eat and tries to sticks her head out the front door to look around but she just backs out whenever anyone tries to close the float behind her. Forget about getting the tail gate up. What's more is I do horse stuff on my own so I need a horse I can load on a float on my own. Right now that's just impossible.  Three people couldn't get her on.  Now I've got to get a professional trainer in to sought this out. If not I'm going to have another very expensive paddock ornament!

I cant' win and I don't know if I've been lied to again. Nearly everyone I know thinks I have but I'm so trusting I don't want to believe it. I've been told to send her back and ask for my money back but she's a good horse in all other aspects... if only she'd float! I've been told to take the previous owner to VCAT but that seems a bit extreme right now. I'm so upset about all this and I feel like such a chump.  I'm just so upset!

How much is the instructor going to cost me? All for a problem that shouldn't exist. I've asked the previous owner to come and show me how she loads her but I haven't had a response back yet. I hope I hear back soon. If that doesn't work I will get Norm Glenn out to retrain her and if that doesn't work I'll get stat decs from all the professionals and Gran will have to go back.

#184 - I'm sore and Gran isn't! Progress!

A blog-able occurrence. I took Gran for a ride this morning, mainly walking and trot, about even amounts of time and she doesn't seem to have pulled up sore. She is definately better in one direction than the other but I don't think that has anything to do with her health, she is just left handed like me.

 Me on the other hand am aching like an out of work cowboy.  I guess that is progress on both fronts.

We got it out of the way early due to the heat but I'll go do some floating with her this evening. It was recommended I get a rearing bit to make us progress quicker but I am definitely not confident in using one so will leave that to the experts and plod along the way I am. 

#183 - My Granny wont float

Yay, I have a new horse with her own issues. Thankfully it appears to be her only one but she just wont go in the horse float and when coaxed in she plays up.  She goes left and right and jumps around and being such a big girl I need to be particularly careful.

I am trying to get her in each day and when she will go in she backs out virtually straight away.  She pulled back with such force that even when anchoring with all my weight she still managed to take me skiing in the paddock on two occasions. I had to drop the lead twice too. I got her in about five or six times and she ate a mouthful while she was there about half the time but she quickly backed out again. I try being encouraging and talk sweetly and pat her while she is in but if she backs up I have to let her go until she gets passed the entrance as she may hit her head on the top of the float and that would just be more  trouble. She grazed the top of her head today on the top of the float flap but I stopped her on the ramp. Stopping her on the ramp is successful some of the time and I will just have to preserver.

It doesn't help that I have a shocking headache or that Teddy decided to run around neighing for 30 seconds while I was inside the float with her. Sending her searching for him (this was when she grazed the top).

Ideally I hope she will learn to self load but we are very far off that now. I will try again tomorrow and the day after that, so on and so forth. I may have to buy a rearing bit just to gain more control.  She certainly gives me a workout though and don't be fooled my the photo looking like butter wouldn't melt in her mouth... we that is actually unfair, she is great apart from the floating issue.

#182 - A new blog name has been chosen!

Yeap I have decided to call the revised version of this blog Gran Teddy Auto. It just has that special kind of ring to it.

From now on I will be writing about my experiences with both horses. Most likely any writing on Teddy will focus on ground work, natural horsemanship (no particular teaching, just whatever I have adapted that works for me) and liberty work. With Granny I will be focusing on dressage, eventing  and trail riding.  But you never know I might mix it up a bit.

So for any new readers out there (perhaps you were drawn in by the new blog name!) these are my babies, photos taken today:

Granny 

Teddy

Here's to an awesome equine 2013!

#181 - Looks like this is the Teddy and Gran Log now

It's been two weeks since I got my new horse Granny. Not a name I would have chosen but what are ya gonna do! I cant think of a good name that sounds like it either and if I do change her name it would have to sound similar.  I must admit that Gran is kind of sticking with me now though, so keeping it looks inevitable.

She is a 14 year old Clydie X TB, 16.1hh. light bay with a baldy face and white patches around her body. She looks mostly Clydie to me, even has the feathering around her hooves and she is built like a tank.  She has great dressage scores from the past but has been out of work for nearly five years so we need to work to get both of our fitness up. It looks like she has her dressage aids firmly committed to memory she is doing so well. She has had one foal in the past but I have her as my new riding mount and Teddy has been doing ground work.

I originally hoped that seeing as she is such a sweet natured girl that some of that may rub off on Teddy but they are in separate paddocks now as the only time I put them together Teddy started being a bossy boots. I don't want her picking up his bad habits, so for now at least, they are talking to each other over the fence with a driveway between them. They seem happy enough with that.

I doubt I will find the time to write a blog for each horse but I still want to record our progress and my ups and downs of returning to riding, so this will now be the Teddy and Granny Log (I need to work out how to change it on Blogger - maybe something like GranTeddy).

Teddy has been doing a bit of ground work and is doing very well. He's a lefty like me so he is working on the squeeze game on the right side. He has actually turned a corner from his rude behaviour of the last month and I  think it might be that I have moved him down the line in the pecking order. I want Gran to be seen as my number one and I do everything with her first. On the one occasion when I didn't, I started Teddy on ground work and took him out of Gran's sight and she started to threat and pace up and down the fence line calling out to him. She is such a girl!  Teddy did the same the first time I took her out of his sight but now he couldn't care less.  And his ground work has been consistently good so I hope we progress a lot on that front. The real test is when I get the float modified to accommodate Gran and take her away from the farm. It will be interesting to see how they both behave.

I have been working Gran fairly regularly after initially coming off her on the first day. She spooked as I was getting on and I hadn't even put my foot in the other stirrup when she seems to simultaneously jump forward, up and to the right and I went backwards and to the left! I fell flat on my side and once again I felt pain in places I'd never experienced before! It took some help from Kim the next day to get me on the right path as I was kind of shaken up by the fall but I'm OK now. Gran is such a lovely horse to ride. Such smooth movement. We are coming along OK but she is still pulling up a little sore. I cant get a physio or masseur out here until next year due to the Christmas holiday (a two week wait) so I've started her on Bute just to be sure. I also find that she is so wide that I'm pulling up sore too!

Today was an unplanned rest day as I've had visitors all day and ended up having a BBQ which left no time to ride. It wont hurt her to have a break but I hope to still work her each day, even at just a walk, to get her fitness up.  Once we are on our way I think I will have to alternate days between Teddy and her. There are also a few clinics coming up mid January so I want to take Gran out to them as well.

So far so good. 

#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!

#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.

#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.

#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.

#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

#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.

#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.

#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!

#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!

#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!

#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.