confidence improving again

took me three goes to get on, though...

first time, he went too far forward altogether, i was a shade slow in getting him to stop.

second time, the angle was bad but i thought i'd try it .. wrong move, i ended up hanging on to the saddle whilst he walked on (calmly, LOL)

third time lucky

then went out...

i decided just along the drive and see how we did.

first test - to show he was trying me out = " no i won't go under the willow onto the drive, i want to go the other way back to my field"

no, i said.

ensured he stood facing the way i wanted him to go, and in due course (not very long, minutes or so) tapped him hard and off he went...

i set off to trot up the small incline - and at that piont realised i had forgotten to do my hat up, oops! nice forward trot, though.

then walk the flat and down the bank to the ford, and turn round, trot back up the bank and most of the flat and then walk the rest of the way back

in course of which, i sat 3 spooks.

one small one as we set off along the drive, some animal in the bushes on the left

a larger one as the gamekeeper started his quad bike up off to our right..

and a larger one again as the animal in the bushes did some more active rustling on the way back... we'd both, clearly, forgotten it was there....

then along into the arena, and having stopped, ensured he would walk on again.

then off

(have to say, i much prefer getting off in the arena, it's a much softer landing on the slightly still not right left foot!)