Now we're on a roll.

So........

Several weeks ago we had some very high winds which blew all my blue barrels down the field. When he went out to repair the electric fence last week, SH gathered them up and brought them back up and they have been sitting at the base of the bank. I thought it was time I got them back up into the gully behind the boards, before they all made another bid for freedom. I did that this morning while Ace was cooking.

It was minus 2 or thereabouts, but little wind, so we went out onto the arena. I set my objective to be that he would walk past the barrels without spooking. I took him to look at them in hand and he didn't react even when I kicked them.

So I got on and off we went. To the left, he walked straight past all three. Crumbs. To the right, (normally worse) he walked straight past all three. Blimey. I asked him to trot. To the left, he trotted straight past all three. Crikey. To the right, he flinched a teeny tiny bit, and I released the reins a little, as he trotted straight past all three. Second time past he didn't react at all. Good grief! I asked him to canter. To the left, he cantered straight past all three. Well blow me down!!  To the right, he cantered straight past all three. You could knock me down with a feather !!!

What an AMAZING success. The combination of removal of pain, removal of restriction, growing up and a more trusting both-sides relationship has worked a miracle.

We'd been out there 5 minutes, and the two elves who sit on my shoulders than had an argument:

Good Elf - he has acheived far more than the target that you set for him. Stop now.

Bad Elf - but you've only been out here 5 minutes, do some more work.

GE - you know that if you start some more work and he finds it hard, he may pick a fight with a barrel and you will go in having set him back again.

BE - you're just scared.

GE - you're not scared, you just want to end of a great note. Do it!

I did two rein backs, neither good, but both definitely backwards without pulling or arguing. And took him in.

I am so chuffed I can hardly believe it. Those barrels, especially when sitting in the drainage ditch, have been a problem for more than a year.

I've ordered an infra red  light for the lorry now, SH says I can have one for 20 minutes on the leisure battery so that should sort out any issues when we travel.

C.