Bridle on and B immediately started flipping the bit over and twisting the cheekpieces again - which then sits the bit way too high in her mouth, so I dropped it a hole each side....and she stopped flipping it, just picked it up and held it .... All she'd been doing was trying to get it comfortable but couldn't as I'd adjusted just a touch too high for her the first time - doh!
I thought I'd try a new route today - a there and back down the Flitch way which is a combined use path / bridleway that runs behind the farm. The idea was that we'd pootle along to the gate / step over bit, turn around and come back.
She was really nice and forward despite the fact this was new territory, so I gradually lengthened the line and let her take the lead which she did!!!!
I stopped after a couple of minutes and thought lets go the whole hog, brought my long line around her bum and fastened the other end to the rope halter to make proper long lines, went to her quarters ......
and asked her to walk on again.....
And walk on she did !!!!
We had a little trot too and she was working really nicely from my voice commands, I was so chuffed with her!!!
Once we approached the gate I asked for halt and came back round to lead her again as I wanted to make sure she didn't spook at the sight of it - It's a metal gate to stop vehicles using the path but has a big cut out with a rubber covered step in the middle for horses to go over...only some horse hate it and take a flying leap as they won't just "step" over the scary 9" high rubber bit for love nor money (...ahem...Safi lol!!)
We walked on up and I asked Bally to have a sniff at it and blow me down she just walked straight up to and then over it as if she'd done every day of her life - I know horses that have to be taken on a 20 minute detour as they won't walk over this thing! What a star!
Gave her loads of cuddles and scratches then we turned round and stepped over it again to head back home. Once we were nice and forwards again I flipped the reins over and let her lead and long reined her back down the path. We had a lovely walk / trot / walk and then I asked for halt again and took over at the front as I thought she'd been plenty brave enough for one night bless her
I took her into her stable for her good girl treats and then into the wash box to see if she'd like a wash off to cool down......well it didn't take long for her to accept the hose all over...this being the second time we tried it! - She wasn't keen on her legs being hosed just yet so I just used the sponge on them, but all up her neck, back, body and chest she stood and let me spray her and sponge her off - really enjoying it!! She kept sticking her nose over to sniff the spray gun bit and ended up standing there as I squirted water in her mouth then flapped it all back out over me lol!
I gave her a nice going over with the lovely scritchy plastic curry comb and then massaged some Eqyss Survivor into her gorgeous mane and ran my fingers through to detangle it - what a gorgeous girlie
Off back to the field for a lovely roll in the long grass, what a fantastic end to the day!
That's brilliant darling. Wow!
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