Long Reining :)

Cheeky little William did really well on the lunge with me today, only a little unwilling to return to walk sometimes...amazing how things have changed from when he couldn't trot round to now when he will go round and round with me just standing there :)

So todays sessions was focused a lot on transitions and getting him to listen to me more again instead of singing along in his little brain as if he is out on a day trip! lol

He was doing really well, and he is a lot softer and more relaxed and happy to round instead of fighting the side reins, which is a big improvement.

Hence why we thought that it would be a good time to introduce William to the long reins. It went down interestingly...the poor boy had no idea what it was touching his back legs so he ran, and ran trying to escape it as it was quite blatantly going to kill him. ahh dear.

Eventually he chilled out I I managed to lunge him using them with the outside one across his back legs and he wasn't running.

Then it progressed to me long reining him :) He was rather good at it I must say!

Overall I am very very pleased with him, and today has been a massive step in the right direction.

Up Up and Away!

The little boy has grown, he is now 15.2 1/2 hands :) although still slightly bum high but hopefully he will make about 15.3hh. Would be nice!

Anyway, he has progressed loads now and is really showing what a super horse he should make.

Today was day one of full on hard work for him. "William, now it is time to meet the roller and side reins" ahh he was a good boy.
He was watching with his beady eyes and ears to see what we were intending on doing with this odd contraption, and when it was done up he insisted on making it seem like it was a huge drag and he was about to fall over, as of course we can pull him over just doing it up..haha. Silly boy.

He is excellent at trotting round now, he just has to learn to really use his back end and accelerate himself forward :)
The side reins were a little weird for him and definitely weren't friends of his, as when he walked forward he had a bit of tension on his mouth which proved somewhat confusing! Couldn't understand that he just needed to round his neck. lol.
Eventually he started to get the idea and when he did soften he looked fabulous :) Just got to keep at it and the muscle should start to build up, and then it will be a lot less tiring for the little boy!

Everyday is a Step in the Right Direction :)

The little boy is doing well :)


To think that just over a week ago he was confused and not really listening to me, and now his ear is on me all the time.


His circle has improved tremendously, he will walk over poles on the ground with out any fuss, and he walk and halt is great. He is such a sweetie - he'll come to a halt and then stand there with his front leg twitching waiting for the command "and William, walk on", and off he goes again.
Occasionally he gets a little worried so stops and gives me the "confused eye" so that I know what going on and I can sort things out, and off he sets back onto the lunge :)

I am taking things slow as trot is still a little worrying for him, but there is no rush and by just doing a few strides a day we will get there.

He is changing shape all the time, although getting a little on the podgy side...someone is enjoying tea a little bit too much. ahaa. Still doesn't understand why he would want to eat and apple or polo, unsurprisingly Mayfly is more than happy to have them seeing as he isn't interested though!!