Echoes of a whisper

So one week on from my session with Rosie Jones, how have things gone?

Ernie is learning quickly to work with his dually - probably quicker than me - and his ground manners are improving again.  He will reverse in hand without protest, albeit in small "bites", which makes a big difference because this means that reversing is now what he does when I ask and not what he does to protest.  I've schooled him in his dually too, if honest he responds better than to a bit, in all gaits.  Am seriously thinking about this as a more permanent option.  The key is me learning more about it.  It is really a very delicate tool, but this what he is always asking for, less always being more.

We are making fantastic hacking progress.  He is definitely still napping and quite a lot as we leave home, particularly as we move up into the woods.  But is has ceased to an impasse.  And certainly no more 30 mins in the bushes! 

I have hacked alone twice this week and never got close to being stuck.  He was quite a pain when we went out with Nero on Saturday, but that was partly me settling too I think.  The short rein 'weaving' is proving excellent, we just don't get stuck or locked in conflict. I also now have my own shaker (a tic tac box with stones in it) which is great if a last resort really required, and it works, give him the rein and he certainly jumps forward after a quick shake. 

I think the one thing at the moment is that it takes a while for him to settle once he's broken from the nap so its about waiting to feel that before asking for too much, too much leg, too early seems to cause another nap.

I even managed to get him two thirds of the around the woods, turn him and after a little weaving, but no shaker, he walked forward.  I stopped after about 15m, patted him, and turned him for home.


We've also changed farrier this week - less said the better here.  Am waiting for the 'ripples' but hey, I pay, I am happier and horse seems better shod!  Sadly mine being too busy the week I asked him to do it.

The downside this weekend was the loss of show just before MM summer show, damn and blast.  This premeditated the above change, but perhaps it's all for the best.  That said I was dissappointed at not competing.  Still we have the MMRC dressage event this Sunday and we're up for an Intro B and Prelim 7, haven't done any practice, and won't get the opportunity tomorrow so as ever we'll wing it!  I suppose there has to be a time when I stop saying, this is just for the experience!