Ace is being a naughty boy. At the moment I can't catch him in the barn, he just keeps walking away and using Radar as a shield. I have to take Radar out, wait for Ace to cop a wobbler or two, and then he will let me get him. It seems like a case of separation anxiety and he just does not want to be taken away from Radar. For the first five minutes of riding his back is up and you can tell he is just waiting for a chance to run back to the barn and his mate. He settles then and works nicely, but the first few minutes feel very perilous as he kicks out and does some half hearted bucks. I am wearing my air jacket. He also did the same when he thought that we had finished and I made him walk on because he had not given me a decent halt.
Ignoring the beginning and end tantrums, he did some good work and his transitions are improving a lot. We are off to our competition tomorrow but we won't be looking to do anything except to remind him that we go out and about. I will be being careful not to overwork him, and also to keep his brain in his head.
The highlight of the day will probably be the chips and the cappucino, there's a great cafe there :-)
C
Apparently the change in the herd dynamics is not yet resolved. Three in the herd does make some things easier, as long as you only take one out of the equation at a time. Two can often bond pretty tightly, especially if one is a little less self secure.
ReplyDeleteHave fun at the show, regardless. I am hoping Ace will settle down and offer some of his quality work in public.