Great to be reunited with Moses this morning although I could quite have easily worked with Elvis who didn't want to be left out of things. Since he went home Pip has been concentrating on consolidating the work I did while he was in. This is all work I could have done for her but obviously the costs start to add up and without it he just isn't ready to be ridden.
Moses can be a spooky boy and lacks confidence when asked to go forward. The key to turning fear into curiosity is to be mindful of how he is thinking, feeling, and doing even when just walking. I need to help him to feel better about everything he meets.
If he needs a moment to study something then I give him that opportunity rather than pushing him on. In that way he learns not to flee forwards or backwards because he knows he doesn't have to. In effect we reward him for having the courage to look and to stick around.
The first time he went through this narrow gap next to the metal gate he rushed forward due to the sound of the rustly leaves. I took him through the same gap several times, asking him to just stand and relax, and once he could do that we carried on.
He wasn't so sure that the tree should be lying on its side and so I switched to the same side as the tree so that I could give him the confidence to go by.
Later Pip took over from me and you can see he is really striding out pretty confidently by now.
Not such a natural hazard but we found these by the side of the track and put them to good use. First time through and he is hesitant - his ears are 'looking' at the barriers on both sides.
A few more trips through and it all becomes nothing.
He also took a good look at this lorry and was keen to go and see it. Sadly it drove off before we could get there but now he thinks he is a mighty little horse seeing off something so large.
Being quietly mindful, reading a pony's reactions and also thinking a ittle ahead mean that you can help him deal with things that might worry him.
"We do ourselves and our horses a disservice when our focus is only on getting our horses to DO better rather than FEEL better - and it's the truly thoughtful horseman who works at understanding the difference." Mark Rashid
Afternoon up at the yard and time to take the children out on Nettles again. Nettles was also a little alert to something in the bushes and later we found out why...
...Troll ponies in the inclosure!
Braydon's turn to ride. He now has his first pair of jodhpurs.
Deer just outside the fields.
