not that we went far - he got into power walking mode once he realised he was going slightly off the usual!
I had thought I'd walk down through the estate to harbour house and back round the 20 acre and back, but thought better of it for 2 reasons
1. his power walking
2. my level of unfitness combined with my dodgy hip
the combination wouldn't have been good
plus, i think he'll probably reduce the power walking each time we go out and go further.... (no he won't...but i'll get fitter and more up for going further!)
there was a third reason - it was spitting on to rain, and i thought we'd get soaked. as it happens we might not have done (it did rain properly but not for more than about 1/2 hour...)
so only went round the block, probably a mile? meant to set "endomondo" going on the phone but forgot till i got back
anyway, back to lunging thoughts
@ trudi - generally speaking, he walks on fine when led. the only current exception is bringing in from the field, but that's because he doesn't want to stop eating grass, LOL.
@ tracey - not sure that he does "get" that. he'll follow me round the arena, no problem, pretty much "to heel" to use a different analogy! but doesn't "get" free schooling
I need Becky to come back soon and generically need help!
If he'd do the work i want, he'd build some muscle and someone could ride him (I still haven't had my physio on my hip yet.....) but i don't think he's got the muscle for being ridden yet....
Good that he walks out though Claire and certainly that'll get you fit, lol
ReplyDeleteThe thing is that they don't 'get' it unless they've been taught it (unless one is a master of body language) so it's petit à petit does it until he understands the whole idea of walking with you at his shoulder rather than just following and then on to lunging from there.
the thing is, trudi, he does do it sometimes ... lunged left very nicely last Sunday ... then stopped ....
ReplyDeleteGetting a horse to lunge well takes some time and some very tricky work...if the horse doesn't take to it easily.
ReplyDeleteI do like the fact that he walks out so willingly on his little adventures. He has a bold attitude and seems to enjoy new things. That should make him a good hack.
Hope that hip gets better so you will be able to ride your boy.
Did he only run on left handed tracks Claire?
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