Improvement

In the school the last two days with Remy and his relaxation has improved with each session.  He's giving me the release and then maintaining it for longer periods, soft in the mouth and soft through the neck. I let him extend the neck a little, but ask him to keep his head up for  a short time and then give him a break to really stretch down. He still tests me to see that he can stretch down if he wants to, but this was much less today and he seems to be settling to it.
His reinback today felt very calm and well balanced and because he was more relaxed, he really seemed to come together and he gave me bigger steps. We tried some reinback to trot transitions into a pretty manageable trot, which is a big deal for us and then shoulder-in on each rein! I'm so excited by this, I really think we're starting to get it. I rode him home down the lane and he felt as light as a feather, his whole body underneath me.

I've got him some hoof boots - Boa's,  not my first choice it has to be said, but the only ones that would give a good fit. I tried them today and they seem ok, didn't seem to bother him, in fact he seemed to be picking his feet up much better. I've got them for his hind feet as he's lazy and my sand school is very abrasive. He doesn't need them when we're hacking out so I'll only use them in the school. I was worried about the sand getting inside them, but they come complete with neoprene gaiters which seemed to work a treat. Anyway, we'll see how they go.

Super Suber

I've gone back to basics and for the last few days I've been working with Anky in the stables, simply asking for a release and relaxation of the jaw from an upward, gently vibrating rein on the corners of her lips. She's guarded, and you can feel the tension in her lips, but we've been making some progress.
Today I took her up to the school and we had the same session in-hand. It seemed like suddenly it clicked, but I know that she's been mulling it over and coming round to it for the last few days and has now decided that it's ok and she can do it. She released, relaxed and stretched her head and neck down to the ground. A modest start, but I'm hoping that this will be the start of work with less tension and more relaxation mentally and physically. After this short session, I sat on, asked for the release down whilst onboard and then rode her back home down the lane and I don't think I imagined the lighter, more relaxed feel in the rein.
I tried the Suber Pad under the saddle and even though it looks bulky, it doesn't feel that way. In fact, it felt very good.
A short session with Remy on the yard, working on the same thing, relaxation of the jaw, followed by stretching the head and neck and taking the rein down. He's quite happy with it all and doesn't have any reservations like his mum. I just have to try to keep his attention as he's so easily distracted, but he's learning to listen and wait quietly for my signals. The swelling under his knee seems to have settled so I'll start taking him in the school again.
Another short session for Bonbon with the bridle, she's settled with it now, holds the bit nicely and relaxes her jaw when I lightly vibrate the ring.

Walk, Trot and Canter........

Another beautiful day today. I took Anky in the school with mixed results. She started off quite good, straight, forward and relaxed. I worked around the perimeter of the school on halt/walk transitions, leg yield, small circles. At one point she was straight and soft enough to ask for a trot transition which was quite good, but then the trot was rushed. As the walk improves, I will start to work more on the walk/trot transitions and work on achieving a slower more relaxed trot.
Meanwhile, the other horses had been turned out and soft lad Remy was calling for his mum, which really distracted her. Having had some nice work in the school, I walked her around the field. As we reached the far end and turned for home, I asked for a couple strides of leg yield and as she softened and relaxed I asked her to canter (couldn't resist it!). We were heading home, so she needed no encouragement, made a nice transition and we cantered up the field. Our first canter - it felt good!!

The first casualty...

..of the year. Lizards, that is. We have them all along the barn wall and the last few days they've been sunning themselves. The kittens watch them all the time. I can understand the fascination, it's very theraputic watching them. Of course the kittens don't do it for the relaxation!!

Today, I decided to take Anky for a walk through our fields. This was an unusual thing for her. She was fairly calm until we went through the gateway towards the bottom field. She then started to get restless, shaking her head,trying to turn away towards home, which is exactly what she did when I rode out alone on Thurs.
Suddenly she rushed past me and set off trotting around me. Her eyes were saying OMG, whats going on! She really couldn't cope with it. I couldn't just stand still as it would have started a pulling war, but I had her on a long line so I tried to move with her, keeping the line slack, which was really difficult. I didn't say anything, just tried to keep my movements fluid and relaxed. After quite a few revolutions she started to look toward me so I slowed my walking and quietly came to a halt. I stood very still and she slowed to a walk and then halted about a yard away from me. I remained very still and she didn't move either, it looked like she was starting to relax. When I was sure that I had her attention I slowly turned away from her and lowered my arm a little and asked her to follow. Her eyes were calm and she followed me quietly down the field. I can't say how good it made me feel when I saw the calmness in her eyes and the relaxation in her stride. I think we've made a start.