A little playing around with the most handsome Aurum after his ridden work. Aurum love to roll and play and connection.
Teddy and the umbrella, we have spent 30 mins at liberty working quietly on curiosity and confidence until he was happy to follow and become curious about the umbrella I was carrying 💕
Lots of following and retreating and waiting for him to find confidence and relaxation a real passive path to acceptance tonight with no stress just lots of time 💝
Playing at liberty with Dotty a little tag and other fun things took a while to warm up but gradually she got more freedom to run and play and was lovely just to share time with my special girl ❤️
Caitlin came to ride and play today. She helped Dotty find a little more suppleness in her body on the circle.
a) encouraging lift at the girth to give the hind legs more space to come under
b) stepping the shoulders into the circle to loosen and lighten the inside foreleg.
c) increasing circle size and engagement from the hind legs
Resulting in a more fluid more trot that activates Dotty's core and softens her back.
At 24 this year my only focus with Dotty is keeping her comfort and strength for as long as possible 🙏
#improvementsarepossible #balancehorsemanship
Update Teddy album
Bow and kneel
Cues established now needs more confidence to wait while down then can progress towards lie down 💕
Update Teddy album
He's good in traffic and happy to ride around the farm with all the goings on 🥰
Update Teddy album
Riding in the field, using the hill to work on balance and strength
Summer 21
Teddy album update!
Horsemanship Showcase 2021
Riding in Harmony
Step one - line of travel
Step two - gait and speed
Step three - body position and position
Teddy in warm up and main aren at Bury Farm
Teddy album update!
Horsemanship Showcase 2021
Riding in Harmony
Step one - line of travel
Step two - gait and speed
Step three - body position and position
Teddy in warm up and main aren at Bury Farm
Teddy album update!
Horsemanship Showcase 2021
Riding in Harmony
Step one - line of travel
Step two - gait and speed
Step three - body position and position
Teddy in warm up and main aren at Bury Farm
Teddy album update!
Horsemanship Showcase 2021
Riding in Harmony
Step one - line of travel
Step two - gait and speed
Step three - body position and position
Teddy in warm up and main aren at Bury Farm
Having been away, I'm tired and the horses are not!! So here is Teddy loose jumping and doing a few of his acrobatics so that in a few days we might be in a good place to recommence ridden work together.
Loose jumping for me needs teaching as a exercise so they can be calm, confident and learn as they go. Dotty is out with us but I didn't want her getting involved with Teddy's antics.
Always build your jumps in a way that helps the horse focus and gain something from the session. When the horse is willing then you do not require guide poles. Sometimes I use them sometimes I don't today Teddy was offering and focused on the idea so they were unnecessary.
Sparks, angle grinder, new shoes no problems!!!
He is very good to shoe, I can tie him up go about my work and come back and get him when he's done. Or leave a note, Teddy in the barn please shoe!!!
I have tried barefoot but he had TB flat feet and thin soles. He copes on soft but not great for road work unless he's in boots and pads. So shoes are the easy way to keep him comfortable and happy in his body.
For me the right choice is the best most comfortable one for the horse and their environment and work load that they are in. I take shoes off to give Teddy's feet a break now and again and often the farrier leaves me a shod horse and gets given an unshod one to reshoe!!! I'm my own kinda special as a client!!!
Oh and spot Dudley the 🐐!!!
When he's good he's very very good!!!!
Just filling Teddy's folder if things we have done so far together.
He's had a go at obstacles as they are great for teaching a horse problem solving, response to an aid, accuracy and improving coordination and confidence.
I always try to approach obstacles as a "can we?" Question, what would it take for me to explain to you how I would like this obstacles done. It's great for conversation starting and partnership building. The outcome over time can be effortless completion of complicated things but the beginning is small try's and lots of praise, rest and recognition. If you reward the try not the task you can take that willingness to puzzle solve into any area of the horse's education and future experiences.
Checking out Teddy's confidence and boldness back in 2020.
The moment we MAKE our horse do something, it comes from a place of demand and force. A requirement to validate ourselves.
When we have the peace in our hearts to ask; The trust in our souls to wait;
The acceptance for ourselves that others choices don't impact our value;
THEN we have learnt to lead with love 😘
My little gift from heaven on my visit to Sweden, two moose quietly grazing near the road.
I love their peace, grace and majestic quality 🥰✨💕
A good leader has many qualities, one is they can hold their vision/plan/idea and wait for the time to be right to execute it.
Coming out of winter I made a plan that Dotty and Teddy would get fit together. It soon became clear that this wasn't going to be the right timing, Dotty needed to build up condition and Teddy was full of himself and not grounded enough to ride easily.
I gave them both time. Life happened, things changed and then today it happened. It was the right day, Teddy and I rode confidently round the block leading Dotty and the time to commence their joint fitness program has come.
When things don't go to plan, remember to hold the plan if it felt like a good one and come back to it later when everyone is ready
Teddy was lovely today; calm, confident, willing and connected. The puzzle pieces felt in place.
The wonderful Tor, Connemara Colt
We did lorry training in the summer together and now working on the trailer.
This was the end of the session and I was so pleased he had understood my process and was happy to walk in, wait, unload. Will add back bar and ramps up next session fingers crossed and maybe a drive 🦄🌟✨
Such a wonderful young horse. He's very Connie and takes me through his learning process until he's mastered each step - can't, scared, can, got it!!!
