A good day

Our appointment today with the new barefoot trimmer was postponed until tomorrow ( now that is a surprise!) so I went for a hack on Anky with Jim and Corky. She was a really good girl and I made the most of it as once her feet are trimmed we won't be hacking out until I can get her some boots.
I took Remy in the school and we had a short lungeing session,just a few minutes each rein at walk. He was very calm and although it's very early work he's starting to get it.
Jim took this little video for me ( and, no, our arena is not really that slopey).

Treeless V Bates Isabel

It was interesting today because I rode out on Anky using my dressage saddle ( Bates Isabel) which I like very much. Compared with the treeless, it is much more comfortable and feels more natural, but of course, I haven't had time to get used to the treeless. What I noticed immediately though was the lack of feeling of the movement through the back compared with the treeless. I can't be sure, but I think Anky moves better in the treeless. Anyway, she was a good girl and we went off down a new track and she took it in her stride.
I took Remy up to the school for a lungeing session and he was a little on edge and spooked a couple of times. What I like is that if I stand still and ask him to stand he does and he calms down very quickly. We had a little walk and trot on both reins and finished on a good note, he was very calm and responsive going back to the yard following on a loose line, halting and walking on as I halted and walked on. He's really funny, we've just installed some large water containers and after checking them out initially, now when we pass them he stops and pushes the lid with his nose because he wants a drink.

2 goods and a not so good.

The two goods this morning.
Rode out with Anky and she was the best she's been. The walk was forward and purposeful, but relaxed and loose. She was soft in my hand and responsive. We were out for almost an hour, she was alert and just felt 'good'.
Remy in the school, lunged on both reins without assistance from Jim and he stayed forward and out on the circle. He started to slow and come in a couple of times but I put the whip towards his shoulder and asked him to walk on and he did. A very short but sweet session.

The not so good this afternoon, Anky stretching in the field.
I brought her in as the flies were also bothering her. She had a little feed of Alfalfa nuts and then lay down (sigh). She got up again after a few minutes and continued to eat her feed, then lay down again. After another few minutes she got up and started to eat her hay apparently feeling better. Not rolling, pawing or sweating, just uncomfortable. It is around her season time, so perhaps that is affecting her. Ho hum onwards..............

Lungeing Remy

Anky was in some discomfort when we brought them in last night. She was lightly stretching and when we brought her into the stable she lay down. She wasn't rolling, but definately uncomfortable. She only stayed down for a few minutes, then she got up and ate her tea. We kept them in for a couple of hours and she seemed fine, eating hay and acting normally. He coat was staring as if she was cold, so I put a (very) light rug on her for the night. I know it's been a little chilly the last couple of nights but it has warmed up a bit now so not sure what to do tonight.

This morning she came in fine, tucked into her breakfast and started on the hay. If i'm going to continue doing anything with her I'm definately going to have to assume she's feeling fine unless evidence to the contrary. I can't keep second guessing or I'll never do anything.
So, we hacked out and she was alert and forward but reasonably relaxed and soft in my hand. I was very pleased.
Remy in the school again. Jim took him out onto about a 15m circle on the left rein and I asked for walk on. Jim walked at his croup encouraging him forward and discouraging him from coming in. He was excellent and we even got a short trot. On the right rein he wanted to come in and resisted the driving aids so we went back to walking a smaller circle and getting a good walk-on and staying forward on the circle. After a few revolutions on the circle I asked him to halt and called it a day. We'll continue tomorrow.
I'm going to introduce him to trotting poles but can't find any for sale around here. Trudi can you remind me where you got yours please? (memory like a sieve!)