We brought the horses in and i tacked them up. Shinobi was seeming slightly more introverted that usual so i spend a fairly long time tacking him up. Plenty of approach and retreat. He allowed me to place the saddle on him without any issues but we played around with cinching untill he relaxed and i spend about 5/ 10 minuets putting the rope hackamore halter thingy on. His eyes were glazed over and he was nt really 'here', i asked him to yield to the halter and bring his nose to me so as i could slip it on but he just remained braced. I waited patiently and then waited some more to see if he'd snap out of it but he was nt so i thought id give him a helping hand and asked to back up by tapping his chest knowing that he would nt be able to brace against the rythmical pressure and that by getting him to move his feet he'd begin to use the left side of his brain and begin to think. He stepped backwards and began to lick his lips, i waited and he began blinking. Cudos to my sister and her boyfriend for waiting so patiently! Shinobi was then able to yield to the halter and bring his nose to me so i could put it on. I took him out into the field to get him moving his feet freely and confidently which he did pretty immediately. A few circles, figure of 8's, falling leaf and S patterns later and he was moving around nicely.
I tacked up Blaze and Piggles with no problems. Took Piggles out in the field to play with for a few minuets, just to make sure he was relaxed and thinking. He moved around nicely and looked ridable straight off the bat so we called it quites. We're ready! Charlie jumped on Blaze and Matt got on Shinobi, i mounted Piggles and asked him to walk on could feel a few difiant bucks building in the little monster. I said to Matt and Charlie "Take a walk around the field for a few minuets to get a feel for the horses i just need to play with Piggles as i think he might start bucking" I did the usual (iv explained the whys to this method in a previous post) backed him up, bent the ribcage and did some transitions, asked him again to walk on and he responded appropriately and happily walked through the gate, Charlie followed but no Matt.. Shinobi has got his fat head down and he's happy stuffing his face whilst Mat is pulling and flapping like a chicken but it was making no difference. Dont you just love those LBI's! So i asked Mat and Charlie to swop ponies, seeing as Charlie used to ride i thought she would be able to correct his behaviour because she did nt need to concentrate on the riding bit. Well Shinobi would nt even let her get on! He kept wondering off from the mountain block to go get grass!!! "Great!" I thought. He was making so much progress dont tell me it was all a coincidence and actually he has made little improvement. Me and Charlie swopped ponies! Matt is now on Blaze, Charlie on Piggles and me on Shinobi. I took him to the mounting block and yes, he began trying to eat, throwing big loops down the reins to lift his head i spent the next few minuets working on getting him to yield to halter and soften instead of bracing all the time. Getting him to lift his head and getting him to keep his head lifted. Eventaully we began to build some respect and he began to respond. He stood quietly and allowed me to mount.
Right NOW we're ready! Dispite all the bother when setting off the ride went really well and i was very proud off all 3 ponies. Me and Shinobi led the ride the entire time, he was great and it was rewarding to see that the habbit he has of snatching grass was very slight today! Piggy and Blaze followed quietly and confidently behind and both Charlie and Matt were having fun trotting along! A very safe and fun ride for all.
It seems that Matt caught the horsey bug as he could not stop smiling and turned to my sister and said "I could get used to doing this at the weekends!"
When we got home and went to put the horses back as usual me and Piggles had a little play on the way, just some sideways towards and some stick to me transitons and Matt thought it was awesome "Charlie Charlie! Your misshing this, look! Em do that again" The next thing i knew he and Blaze are trotting up the field together so i explained to him that if he cantered Blaze would do too. He and Blaze went trotting off again, he did what i had said and he began to canter and the look on his face when Blaze copied and he and her were cantering side by side. Priceless!
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