Bally had Monday off after all the fun on Sunday - it was quite a long day for her - I was up at the field at 7, walked her home along the bridleways, bathed, plaited, loaded hung around and wandered about the showground, did a class, went for a ride around the showground and then back home by 2pm...phew!
Still her behaviour was exemplary and you really can't ask for more than that :-D
In an odd mood last night because of the sad news about my lovely girl Leyna, went up to the field and ended up having a good weep. Bally, Dee and Bonita stood with me, then over me as I sat and bawled my eyes out and gently whiffled my hair and nuzzled my shoulders. Bless them
Decided to do a little bit of in hand flexion work with B. Very unsettled with any sort of contact and I had to be almost whisper like to get her to mouth and not yaw at the bit or throw her head around.
I'm going to have to either rethink bitting / noseband or go bitless for a wee while as she's teething. She's much happier and steadier when the reins are attached to the bit ring and the headcollar so it feels more stable in her mouth (I use a Neue Schule loose ring bit) so if she's happy with the mouthpiece she may need a drop noseband just to support the bit & hold it steady in her mouth of maybe go for something like a half / full cheek..... Not sure will probably have a play and see what she's happiest with.
Well after I'd manage to get some nice calm and soft in hand work I walked B up to the corral and popped on her for a little bit of ridden walk work
Bareback :-O
There aren't many just backed babies I'd even think about doing this with but B has been so like Safi in her fabulous attitude to being ridden (and maybe I'm feeling a bit fatalistic atm due to recent events...no body protector or hat either :-$)
She was lovely, definitely better with flexing to the left after working her inhand, although still has a tendency to banana to the right whilst going straight - seems to be her default position and something I have to be very clear on correcting every time she starts it
One teeny nap by the fence where the rest of the gang had grandstand seats..she didn't move straight off my leg when asked to walk on from a nudge...so got a double nudge and a voice command...then a tickle from the whip which did the trick.
I've been holding off riding her on my own and only actually sitting on her once a week when I could get Gi or Jen to help me, but after her being so wonderfully amenable tonight I think we'll be fine so, as long as I can keep her comfortable in her mouth, we can crack on and start hacking out a bit more and have at least one school session a week on top.
I really have missed riding!
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