S comes to visit

I had just read in my book Riding Fear Free how the key to success is to create as many microscopic steps as possible between your comfort zone and your fears.

Well then S came to visit.

First I had to put Mag in the trailer for some mash because he's usually starving when I arrive but today it was only 10 am and he wasn't frantic about food. But when he walked calmly into the trailer I saw S's mouth fall open - her horse will not do that. Bintu needs a butt rope and two people to be convinced that going in is OK. Of course I'm using food but she was still shocked. Mag stood in the trailer eating as we talked, and he looked over his back a few times to see out, but eventually I eased my way out of the trailer, on the empty side, and we practiced Mag being alone in the trailer for a few seconds at a time, and he was visibly relieved when I returned to stand by him. Yes Mag someday you'll have to be alone in the trailer and someday you will be shut in, but not yet.

A couple times I backed him out for practice and then back in again, and she commented that he backs nice and straight out. Well, sometimes, but that's not a priority to me. The calmness of unloading is more important than the straightness.

Then to the indoor. She admitted she's jealous and I told her that is why we pay the big money - this little indoor, 15X30. She asked me "How much" cuz Germans are never afraid to talk money and was shocked at how much it costs, for such a crappy looking place.

Then I tried to set up poles and foam poles and she said, "Hey, slow down, that's too many, he doesn't need so many!" OK.....apparently I've been setting up too many things?

She started ground work with him with her own cavesson on, a fancy lightweight extra padded one.

I quickly discovered that she is another of those who use non-stop verbalizations to the horse to get responses. So when she asked for a trot, Mag had no way of knowing. She asked me and I said I clucck to him and he trots. She worked and worked, running with him, waving the whip until he figured it out. For a trot, so much work? Hm. Then, interestingly, she asked more, verbally, and he very willingly broke into a canter, on a short line! I couldn't believe it.

He only cantered 2 strides, but still, how did she do that?

And he was calm and not rushing or counter-cantering. Hmmmmmm.

Then she asked for some shoulder-in and said he has no idea how to do that. I said I'd only started working on lateral work in-hand, but we'd been doing only side passing. S has been classically taught from Marius Schneider and says he should start with smaller steps. In fact....this slow....

Lower head.
Bend head.
Shift weight from one hip to the other, so the horse's body is now completely bent, at a standstill.

Mag did it, both sides. It's a lesson I remember from Lukas, who is still employed by S, this weight shifting thing. An exercise in balance.

I like it but I like endurance riding more *whistles tune*

Then I got on.....

Part 2 later, sorry.