Back in the barn!

It's wet. It's windy. It's cold.

We were back in the barn today. New followers won't know that I am lucky enough to have a tiny indoor school, where the boys also live at night in winter and in the daytime in summer. It is only 12 yards by 30 yards, but it's big enough for Jazz to do a flying change in, and there's a lot you can do in walk with unbalanced babies like Ace.

Jazz had a mostly walk session, because this virus is back for a second go at me today and I am very weak and whingy. But it is a delight to experience Jazz getting more and more relaxed about his work. "relaxed" was certainly not a word we could have used about him before this year. He is also quite obviously happy to be back in the old, technically more severe, bits.

I had a new girth on Ace, a Cair one with airbags in it. I bought it from eBay last year to see if it stopped Jazz's saddle from slipping forwards. It didn't. It's a shame to waste it so I want to use it on Ace if I can because it's very smart. He is such a sensitive boy that he wriggled a bit when he felt it, but it was no problem and I was able to tell him to get over it and get on with some work. We did some more walk shoulder in, and he got the idea much more quickly this time and I stopped. I always try to stop a schooling session on a square halt, it seems pointless not to when that's what you want in competition. Ace is a natural. He more often stands square than not This is a great bonus in a dressage horse!!

This is our last full day before Allan goes in tomorrow. If I don't post again before, I'll put up a post, if Blogger is working, on Monday afternoon/evening when I know how things have gone.

C.