I guess it was being allowed out for a hack yesterday that made Radar decide that schooling wasn't for him today. It took me about an hour to get him to settle to a nice walk serpentine. I just kept doggedly at it without getting cross or stiff in my seat, and eventually he was bored into submission. Up til then he was crawling along all stiff and resistant, and shrinking back again within a few strides of being sent out to the bit. It was good when he got it, so I decided not to upset things by trying a trot! I can always tell when we have got it right because he will halt stood on both back feet. When he is not happy or relaxed he cocks one back leg ready to push off quickly with it and run away.
Ace and I had a hack. He was very nervy with all the water on the roads. In some ways he's much worse than Jazz, only he is much easier to control and much less extreme in his spookiness. He has completely given up whipping round and turning for home, thankfully. But it was like riding a horse with wooden legs - rat tat tat tat on the floor in quick succession. When we were half way home again, he suddenly decided to let me sit on his back, and was lovely. Up til then, I just kept a light and hopefully reassuring contact on the reins and with my leg, and avoided getting cross with him because it gets neither of us anywhere.
The pair of them are getting more and more relaxed the longer Jazz is gone. Today I went into the barn to see them and both of them were lying down. That's not normal for Radar anyway, but if ever I do find him lying down he usually gets straight up when he sees me. Today he looked up and said "hi, you don't mind if I keep lying here do you, I'm nice and comfy". I was only checking on their food, so I left them to it until later.
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OK, OK, so radaR is entitled to a bad day or two. After all, he had a lifetime before you of going the wrong way. Still, every time the two of you get it right is a giant step in the right direction.
ReplyDeleteAce and Tucker would make a hack tag team, I fear. Tucker can relax out on a hack but he's always ready for a spook or panic attack.
Cute about the lying down. Chance takes that attitude once he's settled in for a nap. It's so adorable when they are they trusting and content.
It didn't help him at all to be left unbroken until he was 6, did it Jean? He was probably born one-sided and he spent 6 years reinforcing that way of going.
ReplyDeleteI love seeing them lying down, there is something so sweet about it.
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