Really must update this blog sometime. It is quite a good way of keeping a diary. Interestingly, to start with it felt very personal and I didn't want to share it with anyone, but now I am much further down the 'healing' line, I am  happy to share! I just found this video on my old computer of Alfie at his first western show at Solihull in 2010 (pre accident obviously). He did really well and was so very well behaved. He wasn't THAT great in this particular class (note the pawing like a bull at the gate!! A big sign of disobedience in Western circles) but apart from that and trashing the reversing poles, he was great and I had a lovely day, returning with a 3rd in trail, and a 4th, 5th and 6th place in other classes.
I think he was 5th in this particular class.

Riding again

Well I have ridden more in the last few days than I have in the last 10 months!
A combination of things happened this past week or so. After the Haflinger Spring Show I suddenly felt a bit more confident about things - or at least like I was ready to move on a bit. Pete said: 'Can you just get on with riding again now?' and then Alfie had the first signs of laminitis last week when I stupidly left him out on a teensy bit more grass than he is used to and we had a day of rain on dry ground, followed by a day of beautiful sunshine.
I went down last Wednesday evening to find him a bit uncomfortable on his off fore and I could feel that telltale bounding pulse around his fetlock - panic! I left him in for 24 hrs and fortunately it appears I caught it in time. Since then (apart from the last 24 hrs) I have changed his routine and brought him in during the day - much to his disgust - and put him out at night. I was furious with myself.
So then I thought I ought to exercise him a bit more to keep his weight down. I had been lungeing him but hadn't ridden him since my first 2 tries, but apart from the ground being hard and it not being very good for his legs, I don't want to end up with a super fit horse that I haven't sat on!!!
So, I rode last Friday, Sat and Monday. I actually rode too - asked him for a bit more effort and had a plan of what I wanted to achieve. Not that we brilliantly achieved everything by any stretch - even turning a corner was a bit of a challenge if Alfie was gazing in the other direction!! But he seemed to enjoy the work.
I forced myself to ride Saturday as I am still a bit nervous about falling off and seem to get into the mindset of - well I rode yesterday and that was good so maybe I shouldn't push my luck and ride again today. It might be the day I fall off - so I got on again!! I feel better once I am on and am loving my new saddle. I even got some fantastic jog from Alfie despite the bumpy field. He had never really cottoned onto the slow, relaxed jog. He always wants to go at Alfie speed which is not hanging around.  Maybe the comfortable saddle is helping relax his back and swing along.

I do need to smile a bit more though instead of concentrating so hard!! I really do enjoy riding him I think - not that you would think so from these photos!!



Nice jog Alfie




How NOT to turn your pony by AC

Pay attention Alf (how grumpy can I look!!!)

 Oh - one problem - I can't lope anymore!! He can. No bucks, squeals or anything, but I have turned into a bouncy sack of potatoes banging up and down on the saddle. Can't do too much in the bumpy field so I am looking forward to going to Bruce's in July and spending some time working on this in the arena.
These pics have also been useful to me to see what I am doing wrong - note to self: Don't lean towards the way I am trying to turn - lift up instead, when trying to teach Alfie about neck reining, it is not his fault when he turns his head to the left instead of turning his shoulders to the right. It is because I am not pushing my hands far enough forward and am pulling his head around. Oh yes. And SMILE a bit more!! (And do some sit ups!!!)

Getting rid of ghosts

I am glad we did it. On the way up to the college (well from about Warwick) I couldn’t get out of my mind that last time I had come up this road was in an ambulance, then when we were going down the drive over the speed bumps, I could really remember the ambulance going over those and the driver apologising to me. So by the time I got there, I was feeling OK but it was very much on my mind. Very very much. I wasn’t at all nervous of doing the stuff with Alfie, but there was this whole other THING there that I had to deal with.

We did the in hand training first which was good. Both Alfie and BB were a bit on their toes and fidgety as we had left them on the lorry til the last minute (bit of a mistake!!) and it was absolutely blowing a GALE. Fed up of this wind. It was in the covered arena which was rattling and banging, so all things considered they were very good. Anyway, we had to stand up the top end – right by where it happened. I could turn and look at the path, the hump he slipped over on, etc. It was like I had to. When I was waiting for my turn, I just took him over there and stood by the fence and looked out on to it. I went through picturing everything, worked out which bit of slope he had slipped on, where he must have moved to for me to be sat where I ended up, how it must have been, how it looked, how everyone in the covered arena had to stop their dressage etc etc. Then I talked quietly to Alfie about it and then told him it was all OK now and we would be fine together – and then I felt much better and it wasn’t the overriding thing in my head any more. Definitely felt I had needed to do that.

In fact it is a bit odd now, it is almost like I have done everything – handled Alfie, ridden alfie, ridden another horse, been back to the college........sort of feel empty (but not in a bad way) just in a weird way. Almost like it has been so much part of me for so long and that has kind of been something to hang on to – almost an excuse for things I suppose in a way – so whilst I am now hugely glad I have been there and got it over with, I feel a bit like my crutch has gone too. I don’t know if that makes any sense. I am probably over analysing again.

The other REALLY weird thing is this. When I had gone through it in my head and realised it was almost the therapy I needed and it was almost the last major hurdle I had to face,  Alfie did a great big sigh and yawned. He felt very still. He definitely remembered something had happened. I am sure he won't remember what but horses can tell so much and I know him so well it was almost like I had a brief fleeting glimpse of his feelings.

Weird.

So, Margaret davenport was doing the training. She said Alfie ran out really well. Then we did the show class and Jane was judging that. It was a huge class – 12 in it. It took an hour and quarter to judge and must have been really hard. I saw Jane after and she explained more about the judging and things she was looking for. Alfie only came 10^th out of 12 (!) but I knew he wouldn’t do well as all the others were a bit taller, more slender and with plenty of wither – more the ‘riding type’ they so favour now. However they all moved beautifully and Alfie was a bit more like a pony with a leg at each corner!! Bless him.

When Jane judged him, she was with Kim and she was saying outloud his good and bad points. She told me she was pulling my horse apart but it wasn’t anything she wouldn’t say to my face!!! It was the stuff I knew really – flat and very wide across the withers, fat around the shoulder (no riding!), wide ribcage, but in proportion. Nice straight legs. Not quite what she was looking for though in ‘type’ but not a bad horse at all.

I think I will stick to Western!!

It was fun going in Helen’s lorry. Felt very posh and Alfie travelled brilliantly in it considering he has never been in one before. It was cool as she has a camera so you can watch them. I was riveted!! On the way back they both dozed off with their chins resting in the tack lockers in front of them!!

A good day. Sadly photos will have to wait as I left my new show jacket, Alfie's passport and my camera in Helen's lorry!

Excitement - with some trepidation!

We are going to a show on Sunday!
I hadn't even considered the Haflinger Society spring show until Helen emailed this week to ask if Alfie and I would like to go with her and BB. Well, how could I refuse when I have a new show jacket to try out (bought with the kind get well donations from people at last year's breed show) and even Pete thought it would be a good idea!
Just doing the in hand training first, then the showing class in the afternoon. I am looking forward to it for many reasons - taking my lovely horse out and showing him off, meeting up with some friends, going out with Helen for a day (we had fun last time!) and taking Alfie in her beautiful new horsebox. And just for the fact it is doing something with Alfie again.
Slight trepidation comes from the fact it is at Warwickshire College - Scene of The Accident. However, although this is in my mind a bit, I am not letting it overtake the excitement. It will also probably be good to go back before the breed show and get it over with. Maybe!
Also, I am not worrying about it as I have no idea how I will feel again.
This whole 'recovery' if you can call it that is very much a play it by ear kind of game, I am discovering. Never assume anything and just go with how I feel.
It is still all very much in my head from time to time and plays out like a film clip, but I am dealing with it now and it isn't ruling everything else. It is in the background.
I imagined I would be so so nervous about riding and although it is in the back of my mind all the time that I want to be careful and not fall off, I am not nervous about riding as such. In fact I have ridden Dude twice today (ssshhhhhh!!!) and it was fun. So that was a surprise.
In my mind I am thinking it will be a huge deal to go back to the college and see where it happened - that very path, the hillock, the arenas where everything had to stop whilst I was collected in the ambulance etc - but it might not be when I actually get there. On the other hand, if it is and I have a wobbly moment - then so be it. I will deal with it and get on with it. I will have my lovely horse and my friend with me and if anyone has an inkling about what goes on emotionally after such a trauma, Helen does, having been in the same boat herself last year.
So, onwards and upwards and roll on Sunday!

Out for a walk

Well I have been slacking on the blogging lately but I am cross with myself as I find this a really good way of keeping  a diary. I wish I had started it earlier really as so many things are really important and you think you will remember them, but you don't. Things which are good to look back on as a record of how far you have come and other things which would be good learning tools if you could only remember them!
Anyway, I haven't done loads with Alfie lately really as I have been really busy with working, but a couple of weeks ago we met Pete on the common and went for a walk out for a couple of hours. It was the second time we had been out there (first was on our own) but it was the first long walk we have done post accident.
It was lovely. Really nice weather, really peaceful on the common, nice to walk out with Pete and Bart, Alfie was good and really relaxed - could this be helped by the supplement he is on? He was really really good on the way back when Pete went a different way and Bart raced back to me - I had no lead, nothing and we were just coming up to the herd of cows with calves. Bart's idea of fun = bark at the cows until they get fed up and start moving then chase them and entice them into a full blown stampede.
I managed to pick Bart up under one arm and leading Alfie with the other hand we made our way around them. Both were good (apart from Alfie kept sniffing Bart and making him squirm) but I did get a funny look from one lady who suggested as I wasn't riding Alfie, maybe Bart should. It was too complicated to explain to her!!
Really enjoyed taking him out further and helped by going through Jo and Roger's farm then Sarah's to miss out the main bit of the road. Really relaxing.



But we've been out for HOURS now mum - and I'm STARVING



Another ride

Although I enjoyed our first little ride, I haven't been madly desperate to do it again until this past few days. It has been beautifully sunny but very windy, however today I got fed up with waiting for the wind to drop and decided to go anyway and see how he felt. This was after lungeing him yesterday in the wind and finding him really quiet and almost lazy. Plus he is a bit too fat so probably a big effort to drag his feet along the floor!

Pete came with me, but did his own thing whilst I rode. First I did a little bit of in hand work just to suss out his mood. Because I have being doing this a lot, it only takes me a couple of minutes to work out if he is switched on to me, feeling pretty laid back or really full of himself and bouncy - in which case I wasn't going to ride. It was funny getting my saddle etc out of the car, I had already decided I was only going to ride if everything was right and he was in the right mood, but I couldn't help putting some pressure on myself thinking maybe I should get on whatever - I had to physically stop and think that NO - I was only riding if I wanted to.

Alfie seemed good, so I hopped on and just rode for 15 mins in the field. We did some walk and just moving around - stop, back up, turns etc but tried to get him actually working rather than last time I was just wanting him to be quiet and behave. Obviously that was still the case, but I asked for him to look where he was going, be soft and round and not stick his nose out in front as he is inclined to do. Then we worked a bit in jog. I could get some lovely soft slow jog which felt great - maybe his saddle is comfortable? - but hard to sustain as the ground is so hard and there are some lumps and bumps we have to negotiate in the field - not exactly ideal to work on rhythmic paces!!
He responded well though when I asked him to slow down, but must remember to work on lightness in my hand and not resort to pulling him too much. A very easy circle to get into with Alfie when he is wanting to trot on rather than jog. He was softer and slower in the jog after I had asked him to stretch out and trot for a bit.

This felt good and the moment felt right so I asked him up into lope, first on the right rein which was so much the bane of our lives last year when we spent about 2 months battling to get right lope lead before discovering actually he had sore shoulders from his other saddle. Then on the left rein, which wasn't so soft as on the right and harder to relax into. However, it was good to do it, I felt fine (or I wouldn't have asked) and he was good with no bucks or squeaks at all. What a star!

He was a bit sharper and bouncier after this but nothing which put me off, so I just relaxed him again with some jog and walk then some (Very) slow spins, but he did some good steps, crossing his front legs correctly and after some reminders planting his back feet instead of stepping with them too. He hasn't forgotten anything and I am looking forward to feeling a bit more confident with him and getting him in an arena where I can work him properly when we are ready and seeing what he can still do and what our next steps will be to move forwards in a positive way.

Was hoping for some more riding pics, but Pete was busy chatting so just managed a few of Alfie. Next time!




Waiting patiently for mum!

What you looking at?!

Haffie cuddles with hat hair!

Our week

After having a week or so without doing anything with Alfie over Easter, this past week I have picked up the pace again a bit. Millie wanted to ride too this week (and now has announced she would like her own pony. She loves Alfie but she would like a Haflinger of her own!) so sone a mixture of in hand work, lungeing and then Millie rode Thursday evening.
Once again Alfie impressed me. In my head, I always imagine the 'what ifs' like what if he spooks with her etc etc, but maybe that is part of being a mum as much as just me and how I think. She asked if she could ride him on the lunge which we haven't done before, so I lunged him first on his own and he was good. Really quiet and relaxed and listening, so she climbed on board.
Firstly this was impressive - she stood on the mounting block and got on properly without me hoiking her up there. This was a tick in our groundwork box too as prevously, Alfie was always a bit suspicious of mounting blocks and would never line up next to them. I have spent some time with me standing on the block getting him to line up, stand still, be made a fuss off etc etc. Admittedly I was leading and holding him this time, but he stood quietly whilst she got on.
Then he was really good on the lunge, obviously it felt a bit weird to him but he was quiet and waiting for every instruction, both from her and me. She was able to do whoa, back up, walk and jog on herself whilst I still had ultimate control. She really enjoyed it. She still wants to lope him but that is a step too far at the moment. He was so good though and impressed me with his considered approach to what was going on.

I have also been leading him over a little jump too - but don't think he is ever going to be a showjumper!! His mum was a good jumper apparently - I have seen photos of her jumping at Pony Club - and his dad can jump, but obviously Alfie is cut out to be my little western pony (phew! secret sigh of relief!). Don't get me wrong, when he went over it eventually, after much praise, confidence giving pats and quiet perseverance and insistence that he really should follow me when I was on one side of the jump and he was on the other, he jumped quite high (the side of the cross pole) from a standstill!
But he is frightened of the purple jump blocks becuase if he knocks the pole, they make a bang as the pole falls off - this is a terrifying noise in Alfie's world!! He even walks past them keeping a suspicious eye on them! I tried originally lungeing him over the jump, but that was a serious no go with him backing up and refusing to go forwards - not like him at all. He makes me laugh sometimes!!

A big step

Ignore the filming! Millie was in charge of the camera, but I needed to film our starting point to record the rest of our journey. I also did a bit of jog and trot after this. Alfie was so good. It sounds funny, but it was just like he breathed a sigh of relief once I got on. He seemed so happy and relaxed, like it was only yesterday we had our last ride. I felt like he was feeling safe and secure doing something which was so familiar. It is hard to explain, but there was no surprise from him, no antsy-ness, no silly things because he hasn't been ridden for so long (9 months to be exact), he was just soft and listening and doing everything I asked immediately. He felt like a happy horse.
As for me, well I thought I would be so nervous, but it felt right to get on. I lunged him first but he was so soft and calm, I just got on. When I sat up there and picked up the reins, it felt so familiar to me too, like sitting in a favourite chair. The feel of him, the shape of him, his neck in front of me, his little ears - just everything felt so normal and I just automatically knew which 'buttons' to press. It didn't feel at all like it has been 9 months since I last rode.
I am not saying it wasn't a bit deal. It was in a way because it felt like I had 2 halves of me. The one I just described above and then another part which was on edge in case he spooked and shot off. I felt it wouldn't take much to make me lose my confidence in him.
Despite Pete telling me to stay on (!) I rode for about 10 minutes then got off on a good note.
Maybe I should explain too the reason for riding today when I have been told by the consultant I shouldn't ride until July.
It had been on my mind that I needed a plan for this year so Pete agreed to come to the breed show with me and I plan to do the in hand classes - which to be honest I don't find that exciting and neither do Pete or Alfie for that matter - but I thought it would get us back there and I decided I need to do that.
Then Pete said I should do the Western classes there too, but I would only have been riding for about a week then, so that is when Pete said he thought I should get on now, just really low key and only ride when someone is there, but be cautious and just ride in walk and jog and no hacking or anything more exciting until I can ride officially.
I really wanted to try it, so that is what I did today. I don't plan to ride all the time and will still concentrate on groundwork etc, and I know things can happen any time but.......well maybe I am being stupid because I certainly can't imagine getting through all that again which I went through last year...but.........
So that is it. I am not second guessing myself. I got on, it felt great.
Also Bruce sent a really encouraging and helpful email yesterday saying he would also help and I could take him over for a day and have Bruce ride him a couple of times. That kind of gave me confidence in Alfie too that Bruce thought that would work and it wouldn't be a big job to get him going again.
And Jane E-S also said that haflingers are great at having time off and will come back as they were when you left them.
I don't expect it all to be plain sailing and I don't intend to push things at all until I am officially allowed to ride, but it is nice to know I felt good up there as I didn't think I would.

This is a steep hill!!!

This week in words and pictures!

The weather has been fantastic towards the end of this week so after working the first half of the week, I made the most of the second half and spent some time with Alfie.
Thursday I worked with him in the field and he was lovely. Really laid back and listening. Did a bit of groundwork, including over poles - trotting over, sidepass over - can be very creative when I try! Then we had a little lunge. I haven't done this before really as I was aware I didn't want to put too much strain on his joints and muscles and lungeing really can, so I kept it to just 5 minutes of walk, jog and a bit of trot on both reins, with his boots on to give him a bit of support.
Have decided he isn't going to be a jumping pony like his mum - put up a little teensy cross pole but he hates the bang it makes on the blocks if he knocks the pole. It freaks him out so he jumped it once following me, wouldn't lunge over it, knocked it the next time and shot off past me, then after that would just walk up and look at me from the other side!! In the end I put one end up and the other on the floor and walked him over it a few times, but he still very wary of it.
Friday, I took him for a walk to the common. Another milestone as we had to run the gauntlet of the road all the way there. It isn't that he is bad on the road - he really isn't, its just that we have to pass the shop and the caravan place, both with lots of parked cars and trucks unloading etc etc and holding up the traffic which then sits up Alfie's bum or tries to squeeze past us - none of these things on their own create a bother for him, but all at once gets him a bit stressed.
Once on the common, he neighed a bit and squeaked a bit on the first bit, then he relaxed and was just lovely. So quiet ambling along with me. I was thinking I wished I had a field which went straight on to the common as I knew we had to go back past everything again and the relaxed Alfie would turn into not so relaxed by the time we got home. He really was very good, but by the time we got to the church he was jogging and pulling and getting rude and pushy like he does when he is anxious so I stopped on the wide grass verge and did some backing up etc to get him switched back on to me, which worked and he relaxed, but was joggy again on the last bit of road. Nothing too bad.
Anyway, I was telling Jo about it over a cup of tea afterwards and she suggested I could walk through their fields, then through Sarah's and come out on the road nearer the common, past the shop etc. This will be great as I found myself dreading going back down the road in a way. Its not that I don't feel I can handle him - I do, it just spoils a lovely relaxed walk. The field way means I have to do quite a few gates, but that is all good practise for him too and he is really good at them.
So, we enjoyed our first longer walk out.

Today Millie wanted to ride (she had a riding lesson on Dude last Wednesday with Bruce) so I lunged him again first for 5 mins but this time with tack on and his reins tied to stirrups so he had to work into a contact. First time since last July. At first he couldn't remember what to make of it and didn't want to move forwards, so I stood with him and felt on each rein to make him give to the pressure, then he was fine. He actually worked really nicely for a few minutes. I think this will be good in short sessions to build up a bit of topline again.




Working nicely on the lunge

 Then Millie rode him. She was more confident after her lesson, although I have to teach him to respect her too when she is leading him. He forgets and gets in her space a bit much and she loses confidence then. He was good whilst she rode him though (on the lead line) and we did some jog and rising trot too. She asked if she could lope but I feel that is a step too far at the moment! She enjoyed him though which was lovely.



Alfie's favourite tickle spot!



Horse agility

Had a fun day yesterday with Helen Norville and her lovely Bella Belle (aka BB) at horse agility in Cheltenham.
Alfie loaded right away into the trailer (phew!!) and both horses travelled well together which was great as it was their first meeting.
Both behaved brilliantly - a bit on their toes and took a while to get them to listen to start with but it was really low key and relaxed which was great for Helen and I, both of whom went for a fun day out to spend some time with our horses and as another step on our confidence-building route.
We started with some basic groundwork under the guidance of Sheila who ran the course, an accredited Intelligent horsemanship trainer. Alfie and I were fine at this as it is what we do a lot of anyway, but it really worked to get his attention back on me rather than the 6 other horses and his new girlfriend BB.

Helen and BB concentrating on groundwork instructions

Then we were encouraged to go around the course trying all the obstacles in our own time, concentrating on making it as stress-free as possible for our horses and giving them time to suss out each obstacle and not pressurising them into doing something before they were ready.

To start with Alfie was really on his toes and more concerned about where BB was, but with some assertiveness from me (need to practise that!!) and keeping his mind occupied, I found I could settle him and each time he got distracted, it was time to give him something to work out.

After being pretty shy-ey at everything, by the end he would go on everything, except the see-saw - after frightening himself twice by going over it too fast and nearly mowing me down on the second time.

After lunch, we had a mini competition which again was focussed more on training and no pressure (although I admit to having a few butterflies - how silly!!). Had to do all the groundwork again with Alfie whilst waiting to go in as he had been away for lunch but then he was fine and went round very calmly. Even came home with a 4th place rosette.
Enjoyed the day and spending time with Helen. Think Alfie enjoyed his outing too.



Millie has a little ride

Millie has been spending a bit more time with me with Alfie recently and I think has taken a shine to him. She enjoys helping me groom him and often asks to sit on him. She had been asking for a ride on his new western saddle so I relented! Alfie was very good and listened to everything she told him, even though he could probably hardly feel her up there. We only walked but he stopped, turned and backed up when she asked - the beauty of a western trained pony!!

A little walk

On Monday, Alfie and I went for a walk for 20 mins down the lane. It has been on my mind for a while that I want to take him out as I think it will vary his 'work' a little (if you can call it that), build up a bit more fitness, be good for us both confidence-wise as I did a lot of walking out in hand before he was backed and also I thought it wouldn't be such a shock to him this Saturday when we go to horse agility if he had seen a bit of the world outside his field!
I first worked him on some groundwork in the field, just moving his feet around, out of my space, lining up to the fence etc etc - going over what we have done the past few weeks. He lined up at the fence much better this time and didn't mind at all if I sat on the fence above him and swung the rope around over his head.
Then (no laughing!!!!) I walked him round the field with the long rope trailing alongside him either side. He was watching it to start with but didn't really spook. Just wasn't sure what was following him. I did this until he was switched off from it (didn't take long), then I tied a branch to it - just a thin one for the first time, and walked him with the branch dragging along near his back legs. Again he was fine and switched off from it. I would like to build up to doing this with something bigger dragging behind him, but small steps.
He was so quiet and lovely and relaxed that I decided that was the day to go for a walk. The only trouble with our field (much as I love it) is that whichever way I go, I have to do half a mile or so on the fairly busy road first. Anyway, in for a penny in for a pound so off we went down the road to the nearest quiet lane, then down the lane, quick stop for a snack of yummy green grass, then back again.
He was very good. On his toes and looking around but not in a silly way. He shouted a bit to Olivia to start with but settled down and didn't bother too much when two horses came racing up the other side of the hedge to him. A motorbike even came towards us not long after coming out of the field and he didn't bother. The only thing he didn't like much was a motorbike coming behind us on the way back. That caused some jogging and head throwing around when I made him slow down again.
It was good and I will do it some more over the coming weeks. I was a bit worried whether my arm would be strong enough if I needed to really take control of him, so I felt a bit panicky just after we set off. Kind of like I was out on the road and I wasn't 100% sure I could control my horse if I needed to, but now I was out so I would have to! Hard to explain really. After breathing deeply and thinking positive thoughts, I decided I had to trust myself and my lovely pony. He is responsive to groundwork and has always taken quite a lot of confidence from me on the ground. Some people say they feel safer on board, but on the road, I don't.
I can't wait to get out and go across the common and maybe even load him up with a picnic and go up on to the hills! I will get out with my horse even if I can't ride him!!!

Alfie being nosey!!

Snack stop! Such hard work this walking.

First sit on my pony for 8 months!!

Haven't felt much like doing anything all week as had tonsilitis and just felt generally lacking energy but today, I thought I would make the effort as the sun came out. I took my saddle down (only comes out on nice days at the moment!!) and Pete came with me. I didn't say anything to start with but I knew that today I wanted to have a sit on Alfie.
I did some groundwork first and he was great (apart from wanting to check what was in my pocket - must stop treats when working I think, although it does encourage very quick responses when he thinks he is going to get something to eat). He did lead past, hindquarters disengage, change direction, all remembered from the other week and was even better than then. Always find that with him - sometimes some 'thinking' time makes him good at something he has previously struggled with.
Things were good so I took him in the little paddock with the mounting block and got Pete to hold him whilst I got on him. I wasn't nervous about getting on him, but I felt VERY vulnerable once I was up there.

I think some of it was the combination of not having been up there for such a long time and only having a halter on him. One of Alfie's little quirks (maybe his age?) is that if something worries him, he will jump a bit and if the thing doesn't go away then he just panics and gets in more of a tizz. This didn't really bother me before but I guess feeling vulnerable generally, that was very much on my mind. What was going to spook him in the little paddock standing still I don't know!!!

He showed this last Sunday when I walked him on to a huge piece of plastic which Pete had laid out to dry. He walked on OK, then once he got into the middle (his choice!) he wanted to get off, but of course everywhere he walked, it made a scrunching noise so in the end he was spinning round in a big panic not knowing where to go and I just had to let go of him. I did get him back on in a sensible manner, but that kind of shows his nature a bit.

So, I guess all this is a confidence issue and only to be expected. Also he very much picks up on me and my feelings. He was really fine with me getting on and was quite sweet really. It must have felt so strange to him and he kept looking around with a definite feeling of mild surprise! But cos I was feeling a bit edgy, if I wriggled too much or moved my feet around, his head came up and he was definitely wondering what I was about to do.



Its OK Alf, it's only mum!

Having said that, he does look fairly relaxed on these pics!! The good bit was that our saddle was VERY comfy - I hope it is for him too! I could have sat there all day. It is funny, I am glad I did it. I really really wanted to, but also its a bit of a non-event as I can't do it again really now for another few months. I suppose if I was one of these supremely confident people, I would just go and ride and darn well make sure I didn't come off, but I'm not, so I will just have to keep my feet on the ground for a while longer.
What did I learn today from sitting on Alfie? That I need to build up a bit more strength in my arm still - I could really feel it when I leant on it a bit to get off; that when I do start to ride again I need to breathe and relax and think positive things  and have someone with me; that in an ideal world, maybe I need to think about someone riding him for me first then me hop on at the end.
In the meantime, I need to desensitise him plenty for both my confidence and his. When I was working with him on the ground with his saddle on, the end of my rope banged on his wooden stirrup and made a strange noise and he was worried about that. So I stopped him, shook his stirrups, banged them about, flicked the rope on them...etc etc.. until he stood quietly and realised it wasn't an Alfie-eating monster!

Groundwork in the sun

Yesterday for the first time in a long time I was really excited to get down the field and do some work with Alfie. It was a beautiful sunny day and felt like a good day to get a bit more serious.
Originally I had in my head that once I  had the all clear on the x-ray of my arm, I would start groundwork in earnest, but it hasn't really worked like that. I have done bits and pieces over the past few weeks as the weather has allowed and actually I realised the x-ray showing the bone had healed was a good psychological 'tick' for me, but doesn't really change anything, I still have to be extremely careful. So, working with Alfie has kind of crept up slowly.
However, today did feel like spring was in the air, the field was dryer, and was the start of some renewed enthusiasm on both our parts.
I also found a book by Marty Marten on Western training which starts with lots of really logical groundwork and which I worked through with Alfie before backing him, so I have decided to work through that again. It gives me a bit of focus in our training and the exercises are really meaningful and I can see how they help later on when riding again. They concentrate on respecting space, flexibility in the horse and moving his feet from the slightest pressure/body language. When done well its like dancing and feels amazing (need to work to get that good though! Not quite there yet!!).
Today I chose 3 to work on. First was disengaging the hindquarters, which Alfie remembered well and was quick to do with no contact at all on the rope halter. The second was moving his front quarters across and leading past me then continuing on a small circle around me, like a mini lunge. This he did eventually but it took him a while to work out what I wanted and I had to put quite a bit of pressure on him, swinging the end of the rope towards him which made him really grumpy, but he slowly remembered. It was interesting to note he found this easier and picked it up quicker on the right rein. He was also more rounded on this rein. He seemed to be stiffer to the left and was also walking into me with his shoulder more rather than stepping out around me.
It was also a reminder of something I realised a few months ago after thinking about his reactions to various things - if he doesn't understand and I am putting too much pressure on, whether that is physical pressure with a rope or pressure with my body language, he gets really pushy and grumpy, ears back etc and forgets his manners. Before, I thought this was just him being arsy about working, but he was doing it today when he wasn't quite understanding. I took a moment to think how I could make this clearer to him by guiding him more with the rope and also my body language and also backing off the pressure as soon as he took even half a step in the right direction. This really worked for him. He had space to work it out and then was really happy to do it. In fact, we put it all together in the end and did lead past me out on to a circle, then disengage his hindquarters to stop, then move his forehand across in front of me and lead past me going in the other direction, all in one fluid movement and without any pulling on the halter, just me putting myself in the right place.
He was happy to work and so cuddly when he knew he was doing things right. Really seemed pleased to be pleasing me which was lovely. He stood with me for ages having a fuss.
It was funny when I first put my hat on (being safety conscious today with hat and gloves). He couldn't work it out and kept sniffing it all the time - I suppose it is a long long time since he has seen me wearing that!!
Felt good today to be working together.

leading past and out on to a circle. Working well so no pressure on him at all.

Not quite understanding so blocking me completely with a grumpy face!

And happy and relaxed again. Check out the listening ear!

Bananas!

Today Pete, Millie and I spent a lovely few hours at the field in the sunshine doing some bits and pieces that needed doing - closely watched by Alfie of course. Can't do anything down there without a big Alfie face close by. That is part of what I love about haflingers - so love being with people. The other two horses don't bother but Alfie follows you round!
We had a snack and cup of hot choccy break and he just stood there, hanging over the gate. Was very cute. Until he and I had a slight misunderstanding about whose banana I was eating. I, of course, was sure it was mine. He had other ideas........

May as well eat the skin as well Alfie........make a proper job of the theft!!!!



Cold days

Well having done a few bits of groundwork with Alfie over the last few weeks, I really want to start doing something more regularly but apart from having had a VERY busy week this week with no time to do much more than give the horses their evening hay and some carrots for Alfie, the weather is COLD. Too cold to be condusive to getting some poles out and really getting down to some work. Am thinking once we are more switched on again with the groundwork, I can take him out for some walks on the common as long as I am careful.
Other good news - have the all clear on my arm as far as healing goes - YIPPEE! Only took 7 months! Have to be careful not to fall on it for the next 5 months so no riding, skydiving or bungee jumping or skiing.......!!! At first I thought this was ages to wait, but I have already had 7 months without riding, so 5 is nothing. It doesn't change much what I can and can't do at the moment, but at least the breaks have healed over which is a relief.
Am happy to do some groundwork with Alfie now, just got to be extra careful around him and not to get tangled up in any lunge lines!
Roll on milder spring weather....

Few pics of Alfie from April 2010

Last winter Alfie resided a few months at Sandlin Performance Horses whilst I worked to pay his livery. This was a great opportunity to use the facilities there and escape from the mud for a while and also to have some lessons and learn some more with Bruce.

Here he is with the dreaded hose! He tolerates it but it isn't his friend

Alfie says: "Does my head look big in this?"

And here he is hobnobbing with the Big Friends. Peri and Alistair - Bruce and Andria's eventers. He was originally in the field next to them, but decided it would be much more fun to graze with them and climbed through the water trough on numerous occasions to get with them. In the end, we gave up and left him there. He was very honoured as normally Alistair won't let anyone else near Peri but Alfie, being almost short enough to go under his legs and pretty enough to be a girl, obviously wasn't much of a threat!

To treat or not to treat?

Today I did just 10 minutes of groundwork with Alfie which he seemed to enjoy, despite the cold wind and the other two horses following us around the field!
I have never used treats before with Alfie as he has a tendency to climb into your space big time if he thinks you have food so usually hand-feeding is banned. However, after reading and watching a bit about clicker training on You Tube, I wondered how he would respond with food, so with some trepidation I filled my pocked with pony nuts.
Admittedly I didn't take the clicker with me this time as I didn't want a big session with him (field too muddy to inspire either of us at the moment), but he was definitely more motivated once he knew he would get a treat. In fact he was almost dancing with me - moving out of my space immediately I asked for eg back-up, side pass, turn on the haunches. Really following my every move. This was great. He is usually pretty good at groundwork because I did a lot before he was backed and then this has continued with his western training, but with the added incentive of food, he was sharper and more focussed.
Having said that, I then felt he was responding to me purely because of food and I don't like that. Would it lead to him being grumpy if I then asked him at another training session and didn't have food? He wasn't all over me like I wondered if he might be and I only treated him when he had back away from me a bit, but I am not sure I want to encourage the 'cupboard love' element. Hmmm. Dilemma. Would be interested to investigate this further, maybe with someone who does clicker training. Hoping to do this sometime soon.

Alfie's new saddle

This is Alfie's beautiful new saddle. It has been custom made for me by Northwest Saddlery in the USA and is a Flex core saddle with no wooden tree. I have tried on more than 20 saddles and never managed to find one that doesn't dig in poor Alfie's shoulders. He has very little wither and is quite wide so is hard to fit. Hopefully this will do the job. It is my forever saddle and cost a squillion pounds! It is also a bit of a psychological boost for when I can ride him again. A new saddle for a new start - can't wait to sit on it!!! Currently looking at it in the bedroom!

Alfie

Alfie is my 5 (almost 6) yr old haflinger gelding by Oxnead Anthem, out of Bekon Giselle. He was bred in Cheshire. Here he is when he was just born. How cute!!!!
I bought him as a 2 yr old after Eirlys discovered him on the pages of Horsemart. I didn't want a youngster and I wasn't ready to buy one at that point - but he had something and so he came to live with us in October 2007.
I did lots of groundwork with him then he was started by Bruce Lawrence at http://www.sandlinperformancehorses.co.uk/ - and I got well and truly hooked on western riding!

The Start

I have been tempted into the world of blogging by my lovely friend Eirlys who has inspired me with her fantastic tales of New Zealand and Navvy.
I think it will be fun to keep a record of my own exploits with my cute and cheeky haflinger Alfie (Azaria) and might even be helpful as he and I start to rebuild our relationship after an accident last year.
So, this is my first post, on my first blog and more will follow!