Bareback Walk

Another lovely sunny warm day today - so even though I spent all weekend washing and detailing my float, as it's for sale, I took Garbo out to Woodhill Sands again... it's a 5 min trailer ride away so really a fantastic place to ride... a natural sand area so the footing is better than any man made arena. Up until recently I have not wanted to ride there as it was not enclosed enough for me, but now I feel ready and today went really well.

Loading at both ends was fantastic... as was the unloading - 6/10 for both!

The walk from the float to the arena takes about 4 minutes I suppose so I have been driving from zone 5 during this time and making sure I am more particular and not letting him wander off to visit the horses or collect horse email... I think this will ultimately help with my leadership from the saddle too. So today I managed to get him to move back onto the track sideways from Zone 5 which was pretty cool.

Garbo - this bareback pad really doesn't suit me!

We didn't do alot on the ground, I could see he was relaxed and happy, head down, so I got on bareback (with bareback pad) and we walked all over the place - I kept my carrot stick with me this time. I think Garbo was actually ready to go exploring so we'll do that on Friday. We also did some nice sideways while walking forward too. I added in some transitions and we backed up into the Start Box just for a laugh.

After I got off, Bronwyn and Critey left to go wash her tail, and it was a good test for my leadership - because suddenly Garbo was 'without' horse backup. It took a strong send on a circle to get his focus back on me and we got some lovely canter - I was careful to stop after half a lap, and we worked on him arching in and not out - with me wiggling the rope each time he looks out.

Then we walked 'away' from Critey in the opposite direction and practised our sideways along a fence at the end of the 22ft. It's improving and I think Garbo is finding it easier now his hip is not sore.

This is Critey....

Then I drove hi, all the way back to the float from Zone 5, and all I can say is that he (and I) were so relaxed for the whole trip - it was just awesome. This being a place where he has been one super stressed horse in the past. A place with lots of scary spooky things going on. But not today. He was calm, sensible and listening to me. Wow. 3 years work has paid off. Of course we are not yet cantering here (that's my goal), and then of course to add other strange horses.... (one step at a time) and then to do that while a competition is on....

We came home and Maraschino had not moved a foot from where I left him - he had found a stalky weed we had pulled from the garden a week ago - so it was all woody - he's teething at the moment.... I threw it over the fence for him and he started chewing it as I loaded Garbo - he didn't even look up as we drove off. When I returned he didn't really look up - and didn't call out - he had about a foot left of the stalky trunk - he had spent two hours munching away... I'll have to find some more of those! It's was his birthday today!! (4)