Took Remy in the school today and started just by asking him to stand and remain standing until I ask for something else. Sounds simple doesn't it! Probably due to my sloppy training he halts and then tries to guess what I'm going to ask him next, he'll either walk on, or, like today, volunteer a rather nice giravolta. He tries to anticipate as soon as I place myself close at his shoulder, so, on Jim's suggestion, I asked him to stand, stood perfectly still myself and then I walked to his side, gave him a gentle pat, quarters, round the back and returned to his head, gently patting him all the time. I repeated this 3 times and it worked every time, he didn't move a muscle. When I returned to his shoulder he remained standing waiting for the signal. I worked at walk around the perimeter of the school, using small circles, changes of rein and walk/halt transitions. Once he was calm and focussed I halted him, stepped up on my improvised mounting block and lent over his back. He was fine so I repeated it on both sides letting him take my weight ( quite considerable, believe me!). He was a very good boy as the only thing I had as a mounting block was an upturned wobbly dustbin.
I had a short session with Bonbon on the yard, leading and halting, she was very calm.
I wanted to ride Anky but she was stretching a litle so I took her out and lunged her at walk and trot. She didn't look particularly tight over her back and after a few minutes started to stretch down ( to eat the grass I might add) so we did a little in-hand work and she gave me a really nice giravolta on both reins. he's seemed ok since. A good day with the horses.
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