Cor, you dunnarf know when you are getting old, I can tell you. One easy whizz around the farm ride and I'm as stiff as a board. So this afternoon when I when to ride Ace, I was stiff and he was feeling lazy. So not a good combination !
It was also three weeks to the day when he bucked me off in no uncertain terms for using a whip to chivvy him along on a Sunday afternoon when he was similarly lazy feeling. With considerable trepidation, I got off to pick up a whip, which I have not used since that day.
It wasn't a problem, and he immediately went forward better just because I was carrying it. I did tap him with it a few times too, and got no explosions.
The only paddy he threw, and it was a moderately big one, was when I was doing 10m canter circles. He would happily do the two at the far end of the arena, but blew up at the one right by the gate - what does that tell you about the mental and physical impact on his behaviour? He is fine being asked to do something difficult until you ask him to do it in a place (near the barrels, near the gate) where the mental impact is also stronger.
In his favour, I am pretty sure that the tiny bite on his back was irritating him very slightly, in which case he was a really, really good boy to behave and work at al. I'm very pleased with him.
I'll be making a decision tomorrow whether to compete on Wednesday and if I do, whether to go affiliated or not.
C
Ah, yes, the stiffness just comes with the years, I fear. But you are younger than I am, so don't complain yet....*G*
ReplyDeleteOnce again good news on the Ace front. The lure of the gate might just have been too tempting. I'm sure "out" was his option as opposed to "work." After all, isn't that what gates are for...having a bit of a problem here with a persistent kitten in front of the monitor. *lol*
The kitten on the keyboard problem, I know it well.:-)
ReplyDeleteC