7th August, 2013 ...and Rest...

Another training analogy today. It was off to the gym this morning and I noticed that in between the exercises I was directed to do by Sally I just took the opportunity to relax and rest. A horse that is being worked at an optimum level will do the same. He knows that he has to take the opportunity when he can. Proper working horses spend very little time fussing and fretting, they stand when they are tacked up, when they are tied up and whenever there is a break in the proceedings. Providing a horse is physically comfortable, there's a lot to be said for work.

6th August, 2013 Lindy and Indy et al

Another day at 'the office' then and four horses to work with. 17.1 hh Trakhener Hanoverian cross Hanna needed some leg handling work to draw a distinction between when we want her to keep her feet down and when we want her to pick them up. The extendable feather duster saves my back although I still had to stretch to give her a kiss

Next it was time to take Jazz and Indy out on the Forest for a confidence walk. Although she had company, Jazz was asked to take the lead and proved herself to be brave and curious. A good combination.

Indi was pretty fearless too although she gave the ditch plenty of clearance....

And finally Sampson had his first road journey and went for a walk around the same course all on his own. He's a pretty exceptional young horse, frightened of nothing and always interested in something new. It's going to be hard to keep him occupied for the next couple of years before he is eventually ridden. We're going to need to be one step ahead all the way.

"Sarah can I just say what a privilege it is to work with you with Sampson and that you have made such a difference to my thoughts on training and how I think and behave with both my horses. You are an inspiration and a pure pleasure to work with both in pilates and horsemanship. I really hope that we have a very long and fulfilling relationship/friendship from this union." TH

6th August, 2013 August Company

Lots to look forward to throughout August with starter Jazz and pre-starter Isaac both coming in this week. Jazz has already arrived and settled. The week also started with one of those curious coincidences - the horse I worked with on Saturday was chestnut and called Bailey and the horse I worked with yesterday afternoon was a chestnut called Bayly.

An early safari across the Forest this morning to check on everyone before I go to see some 'outside' horses.

5th August, 2013 A Clean Pair of Heels

Sometimes I sit on this horse! Just before the farrier arrived Theoden was determined that I should get a good look at the state of his back shoes.

3rd August, 2013 Splash Down

An interesting audience for this afternoon's training. I've never done groundwork in a big pool of water before and you should note I am only wearing my short (and therefore wet) boots here. Santi has been worried about the water splash for some time so there was nothing for it but to get stuck in, get wet and prove that there was nothing to be afraid of.

Later, instead of dashing through the water, Santi walked through calmly, halting, backing up and circling in the water.

"Lovely to see you too, and really enjoyed our session and watching you work with G and B. The nice thing is I've got the tools, and hopefully the confidence, to see the water splash as a training opportunity now, rather than something to either avoid or get over with. Thank you!"CJ


Next it was off to meet a new client, a lovely chestnut Thoroughbred, for some groundwork. It would have been very easy not to do anything at all as he was very keen to give me a nice kiss and a cuddle. Such a sweet horse.

Gently backing up with his owner. He has a boot on to replace a lost shoe.

2nd August, 2013 Moonlighting

David's turn to earn his keep and the motorbike's too. Last time Oscar saw a motorbike he tried to leave for home. By working closely with the motorbike we hope to educate him that he needn't be afraid. David is armed with treats so that if Oscar is brave enough to get really close he can be rewarded for his efforts. We also asked him to follow the bike at walk and trot and he did become rather enthusiastic (and much closer than this early picture below shows). We ended the session with him following it loose with me there just to make sure that he didn't touch the exhaust or get entangled with any of the sticky out bits.

1st August, 2013 The Model T Horses

Tracey was told she could long-rein any colour of horse this morning "as long as it's black". Indiana started to earn her keep and even though she is the most over-indulged pony when it comes to the other horses she proved to have a little worth ethic and to accept direction. As this was her first time, she was the ideal candidate to show Tracey how to prepare her own horse for long-reining. 

Both horses wore a cooler to keep the flies off them while they worked. The insects today were vicious and as soon as the session was over the horses went straight back into the cool depths of the Nissen hut.

"I would like to thank you, Petra and Indiana very much for my first long-reining lesson. I really enjoyed the morning despite us all being under attack from those bugs! Petra is a sweet heart and very patient with me, I know she was desperate to get back to shade! I went to see Bella after I left you and it was all fresh for me. She behaved beautifully, walked to the school like she'd done it every day forever dragging our long line behind us! We worked through all the preparation exercises and Bella was a star, I did get to the point where I tried to see if Bella would go ahead of me, like Indiana did so beautifully, and I do believe if she could have laughed she would have, oh well next time, she was amazing I couldn't be more pleased."TP