Acceptance

Continuing from yesterday, I took Anky in the school. She is in season and, in complete contrast to yesterday, she was very spooky. She spooked and spun round twice before I even got her through the drive gate. We continued up to the school and I dismounted for a short lungeing session. She relaxed a little and when I got back on she was pretty calm.
It's very basic work in walk, asking for softness,relaxation and bend. Today was a huge positive as we started the session where we left off yesterday with her soft and accepting.  It felt good.

By the time I'd finished it was red hot so instead of a session in the school, I took Remy onto the yard to the mounting block and sat on for a few minutes, asking for bend left and right, walk on and halt. I tried the Suber pad under the saddle and I think it's going to work. He was a good boy.

Softness and trust

A short lungeing session followed by a little in-hand work with Remy.  He's tight through his neck and I'm trying to relax him. Today was better on the lunge, he had moments in the trot where he relaxed and stretched over his neck. He's getting much better at halting and waiting for a signal in the in-hand work. I think, perhaps , he's working it out and he's not as confused as he was. I have to work on my own confusion now!
I took Anky in the school, a short lungeing session followed by some ridden work at walk. For the first time today I felt a real, genuine acceptance of the contact, a softness I've never felt from her, a real sense of trust. If I can gain her trust, then, I'm sure we will have cleared the first hurdle and we can set our sights on the next one.

Hay's in.......

A lunge and in-hand session this morning with Remy, to be followed by a ridden session in the school with Anky. However, we were interrupted by the arrival of the farmer to bring our hay in so didn't get to do that. Corky was watching with eagle eye, she knows exactly what it means when we bring in the hay - she gets to go in her favourite field!! I expected mad rushing around wth excitement............

Oradour sur Vayres - Fête Foraine

I overslept this morning, it was 9.30 when I woke up. I'd intended to have a short session with Remy, but didn't have the time as it was my french class.
We had a lovely time yesterday evening at the  Fête Foraine at Oradour Sur Vayres. I haven't been to a funfair for many years and we met up with Trudi, Patrick and Lydia which made it all the more fun!!
We went on a few of the rides (just to keep Lydia company, of course :-) ) and I really enjoyed it.
At the end of the evening there was a magnificent firework display which really finished the night off with a bang. I forgot my camera so no pics of the fireworks :-(, but here are some pics of the rides.

Monsters at the lake

It was a lovely morning, hazy sunshine and very few flies.  A session in-hand with Remy and Anky and then into the school with Bonbon.
It's been a few weeks since we took her up to the school,  but she went up there with no problems. We had a walk around and then started on the beginnings of lunge work, asking for a walk and halt transitions on a small circle. She's very willing.
We had some excitement when she spied a group of fishermen arriving at the small lake just across the field. She thought they were monsters and was really on her toes and snorting, this lasted for about ten minutes and we had some lovely (unasked for) trot work on the circle, but even though she was distracted, she stayed light on the line and didn't over-react. A great session.
Jim had followed me up with the camera so took some pics - he loves her so much, I think we're going to get pic overload during the course of her training.

Busy morning....

...with the horses. I started with Remy on the yard. We're concentrating on standing still until asked to do anything! He's learning a lot of things and he's getting to the point where he's anticipating, and offering me forwards, backwards or sideways when all I want is 'stand'.
If I ask or a flexion, he takes it as a request to walk on, but today we had 'stand', focus and flexions. He's a good boy.
Another lungeing session with Anky in the school. She's starting to look a little fitter, her belly is trimmer and she's moving a little easier. It's still early days but I hope that we're heading in the right direction.

Finished the morning taking bonbon for a walk and starting the beginnings of lunge work.

New gates required

It was showery today, but we managed to catch some good weather and it was pleasantly cool.
I had another short session with Remy in-hand on the yard and a lungeing session with Anky. After all the problems we've had with Anky's health I think she's starting to fitten up a little. I hope so , anyway.

Not brilliant pics, Jim took them with his dinky camera.
Travelled into Limoges today to look for some gates for the drive. We don't really know what we want, but after today at least we know what we don't want. How difficult can it be to get a pair of gates!

Home from the hospital - again

After another scare, and spending the week in the hospital, Jim is back home. It appears that after the last operation, a small piece of plaque and a blood clot had blocked a vein in his heart. It caused a lot of pain and his blood pressure shot sky high, but after lots of tests, the doctors seem to think that everything is now under control and are treating it with medication. It was really scary for both of us, he's spent a month out of the last two in hospital. and we're both hoping that things are going to be better now.
I got back to doing something with the horses today, a short session in-hand with Remy and a ridden session in the school with Anky.
Remy was quite upbeat and forward today. Good for the lungeing, but a little too distracted for the in-hand. I had an extra ten minute session on the yard this evening,working on the basics, and he was wonderfully relaxed and focussed, it was a good session and  I don't feel quite so worried now that I'm confusing the s**t out of him.
I've borrowed a Suber Pad to try with the new Lexington (really got it for Remy, but used it on Anky today) so we'll see how it goes. 
I'm a bit down after the events of the past month or so. After the initial relief of Jim being ok, I'm now feeling very tired. I think it's carrying over to my work with the horses and as always when I'm unsettled I'm starting to doubt myself and my abilty to train them, especially my very impressionable, precious young horses. It's a big responsibility...........
Ricky came down this afternoon for a chat and to arrange our musical afternoon next week, she came down on her new bike :-) She's over sixty five, a lttle dynamo and I love her to bits.

Sitting On Part 2

Today I sat on Remy for the second time. We took him into the school and Jim got it on video.
Remy was very patient with me as I failed to mount from the off-side, my leg obviously not used to doing it and obviously not strong enough. LOL , I could almost hear Remy tuttng as he raised his eyes skywards. He did a great job though.

Rain at last

We needed the rain, but this morning when I went down to the stables it was raining hard.
I had a short flexion session with Remy.
Spent the afternoon 'En panne" on the N21 to Limoges.  At least we know how to call for 'assistance' now, but we still haven't got our new drive gates.

Sitting On

We went for a hack this morning, me and Anky , Jim and Corky. It was good, we did the circular ride on the woodland tracks around the village. Corky's picked up so much since we started the antibiotics and she looked good. Jim said she felt good too!
When we got back it was very hot so I decided not to lunge Remy but took him onto the yard to practice standing at the mounting block. He was so steady as I leant over his back that I put my foot into the stirrup, swung my leg over slowly and sat down into the saddle. He was fine and we walked a circle on each rein with Jim leading before asking for a halt and calling it a day. I'd not planned to do it, but it just felt right.

Thomas

I lunged Anky this morning, took Remy for a walk through the wood and continued with Bonbon's early lunge training. All good!
It's so hot and heavy though, wish it would break.
I found this while cleaning the barn out ready for the hay, it's just a kids toy pistol that we bought for Thomas the first time he came out to visit, he was just a boy. I only see him now on facebook and in such a short time he's grown up. I miss him!

Bonbon's intro to the school

Me and Bonbon in the school, accompanied by Ella and Louis,


Bonbon's introduction to the school from Diane Clayton on Vimeo.

A good day with Remy in the school, more motivated on the lunge with better transitions. I've a new mounting block and for the last few days I've been standing him up next to it and then leaning over his back. He's remained standing, rock steady, so far so good.
I took Bonbon to the bottom of the garden and started to prepare her for lunge work, asking her to walk on and halt with me at her side, just a few strides on a small circle. She was a good girl.
I then took Anky out for a short hack ,about 45 minutes. She had a small wobble into the wood, not wanting to go, but she soon decided it was ok and we carried on without a problem. She was straighter today, softer in the hand and at times the walk was really forward and free moving.
Gareth, our trimmer came this afternoon, I'm really happy with their feet, even with the hard ground they seem to be coping well.
And, our hay is baled and ready to come in!! Great.

A good coupla days

Yesterday was a really good day, a session with Remy in the school, lungeing and a little in-hand. Jim took some pics.

Then we took Bonbon in there again, just another little walk around and over the poles. She's a star. He took some pics of her too!

Vid of the whole thing (probably rather boring) to follow.


Today it was soooooo hot so I just lunged Anky and then did a short session ridden at walk. She was very attentive. The babies have had a day off.
I had a lovely musical afternoon at Ricky's, with a little session messing in the pool afterwards.

Un jour sans chevaux

Ma leçon française ce matin donc je n'ai fait rien avec les chevaux. J'avais eu l'intention de travailler avec Anky et Remy et me suis levé tôt, mais la connexion Internet était débranchée et j'ai passé 2 hs parlant aux gens sympathiques (pas) à SFR!!
Après la leçon, je devais recueillir un peu de médecine pour Corky d'un ami et quand je suis revenu à la maison, j'étais trop fatigué et il était trop chaud pour faire n'importe quoi. Nous devions aussi recueillir la voiture du garage et faire les courses.
Donc c'était un jour sans les chevaux, sauf que je devais injecter Corky trois fois avec ses antibiotiques.
Je n'ai jamais fait ceci avant, mais j'ai décidé que je dois apprendre. Je ne peux pas croire combien il m'a inquiété, mais je crois qu'il est allé ok ,!

All go today

Started the day with Remy in the school, a short lungeing and in-hand session. He was a little distracted by the farmer mowing the field, but started to relax and did some good work. Followed up with Anky in the school and we had a good lungeing session. She's beginning to loosen up on the left rein and there's less of a difference between the two reins. She stretched nicely in the trot with good rhythm.
Corky started with a runny nose over the weekend, not too horrid, but just from one nostril. I suspected a sinus infection and the vet came out this afternoon and confirmed it. He took a couple of x-rays and we could see the frontal passages were blocked. He's given us a 10 day course of Antibiotics, steroids (thankfully,only at a low dose)  to help the inflammation and we're going to treat topically with a betadine solution. Good old Corky actually tolerates this being sprayed up her nose.
So, this morning, horses worked, tack cleaned, car dropped off at the garage for a couple of small jobs,cherries picked,roses dead-headed and finished painting the stables.. This afternoon we had friends call round to visit and check on Jim, the vet appointment and garden fully watered. Like I said, it was all go!

Hot and sticky

Both the weather, and me after my sessions with the horses today.
I lunged Remy again, he was a good boy, responding well into the transitions. The walk/ trot transitions were good today and he maintained the trot better, and on a couple of occasions started to relax and stretch over his neck for a few strides.
I rode Anky in the school. We worked at walk, moving around the school using circles, serpentines, loops off the track, trying to get her relaxed and soft. I did as little as possible with the rens, just trying to keep her neck fairly straight with slight flexion to the inside, concentrating on moving her shoulders and soft to my inside leg. I've said before that she can't move in a straight line and it's true, we've lots of work to do. Having said that, she was very attentive and not at all spooky.
I've been painting the stables the last couple of days, I'm halfway through thejob, it's so hot I've only managed one per day.

Lungeing

Last couple of days have been busy with one thing or another, but I have lunged both Anky and Remy each day, Friday and Saturday. I'm going to continue to ride Anky but I'm also going to lunge her regularly to try and strengthen up her abdominal muscles, which, in turn will support her gut and, I'm hoping, help to make her more comfortable.
It's been quite a while since I last lunged her and I'm pleasantly surprised. We've had two good sessions. She's been responsive and forward, and as she started to relax in the trot and stretch over her neck she developed a lovely rhythm and calmness that I've never seen before.
I've decided to concentrate on the lungeing for a while with Remy. I move him around the school on the lunge, first at walk, using the whole of the school, alternating with large circles. He's not easy to motivate and I'm trying to find the way to do this. He's not unwilling and I've never known him to be naughty, he's just so laid-back.  I'm finding that staying close and moving with him is working the best, keeping his attention, aiming for quick responses. Today we got some decent transitions to trot and a couple of nice circles with him keeping the trot with good balance. Between rein changes I practice the giravolta and he's really starting to cross over with nice measured steps.  I'm trying to keep my signals clear, not wanting any confusion, it's not easy. Today I asked for halt a couple of times and he offered me giravolta with perfect, regular steps - very much appreciated and received. But...
I must be better and I must be clearer!

View from the terrace

 Sitting on the terrace looking at my guys in the field

 My mum's corner garden, I've planted wildflowers

 The guys doing what they do best

 Anky and Bonbon happily getting on with it

 Remy stamping at flies