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!