Lin's blog

So, although me and the 45' line are developing a relationship, Namara obviously thinks otherwise.  She will hind quarter yield beautifully on the 12' and 22' lines but is very slow on the 45' line.  Her attention wanders and at this greater distance I think my timing is way out.  When she does register my requests she is only too happy to oblige so I must think more about this and maybe play with the line without her.  On the plus side it was worming day today and she took it as if it was an apple.  Lovely Girl.

So decided to have some time with Namara.  I am useless with the 45' line so have decided not to use anything else until I feel more competent.  Yesterday Namara decided to be very RBE so we practiced our circling and canter games - her canter was 10/10, my rope handling was 1/10 but we had a little fun with some liberty work.  Today Nan was RBI so her canter was 3/10 but I delighted to say my rope handling was 4/10.  Again we played with the liberty and I found she is quite happy with leading by the ears, front legs and hind legs which was a surprise knowing how RB

As everyone knows in se uk its been rather hard to do much.  I've been doing passenger game at trot, which is quite enjoyable now, and am working at the canter - just one lap of the 20x40 arena after which we both need to regain our equibrium but there is definite improvement.  We've also been working on the her draw, which is now pretty good.  This has enabled me to look at the liberty work again which is quite a comedy act.  Sometimes she is very responsive, but then will lose concentration and drift away to do look at oyher things.  I learned the hard way a

I was going to call this blog "Allowing Nancy to be Wrong", but then I realised that she is never wrong.  She is either not ready emotionally or phsycally or I have not been clear enough with my requests.  We were practicing my pushing passenger game as I am useless at it (or am I?).  Nancy was following the rail on her difficult rein, but would not maintain gait (the trot).  I allowed her to drop into walk whenever she wanted to and gently asked he up a gait every time.  She responded everytime  immediately.  After 15 or so laps (I totally lost

Any one living in Kent will know exactly what I mean.  The all weather surface has dried out and the sun was shining.

The thaw has started and every thing is wet and slippery, plus the water still isn't running, but hey ho that's life.  Continues playing with Nanc with the back up and draw.  I have a strong suspicion that I have never actually taught her the draw as she has gone very introverted about it - normally a sign she doesn't understand and needs lots of thinking time, so this is the ideal weather for practicing.  I'm covered in all my ski gear and so can wait for the 4 - 5 minutes she needs to assimilate my requests.  This is the 3rd day we have worked on this game, and there i

Slight thaw today which meant the water was running in the old kennel yard half way down the hill, so not so far to drag water, about 500 meters.  Played out in the field on the 22' line today just to check hind quarter yields and the draw and drive - at last I understand the importance of these 3 and their uses.Nancy was brilliant and happily did circles with slack in the line, moving up and down paces with a finger point, but I must work on the draw.  She comes in to me, but off to one side without looking at me so I have to look at out relationship in context wit

Still it snows and still th ground is frozen luckily the water is still running and we have taken every possible way to ensurewe can get accessto water for the next week or so.  Little Billi is confined to the all weather area as he is laminitic/cushings so has been separated from the girls, We're plodding through the Level 3 discs and just trying one or two games a day and those that need more practice I'm noting downto deal with when the weather is better, but interestingly the short periods of very short games is suiting Namara and she is very alert and interested.  If I leave

Everything is frozen and the ground is hard again so to keep us warm I called her and worked round the field practising our traveling circles and falling leaf which pleased her.  We had a few bucks but mostly she was very collected and watching me for the next move - a lovely session.

It might not be snowing, but its raining and raining and very cold.  Despite that we had a lovely play today.  Madeline was playing with Hatti and Milli (age 7) and her pony Billi have just passed Level 1 and they were playing on the 22' line.  Interestingly she found it easier that the 12' line because she didn't attempt to coil the rope up, just let it drag.  Namara and I joined in.  We are still going over the level 1 & 2 stuff and checking out the level 3 and so far all is going well.  Once my retro assessment is back I will pick up the tasks needed&nbs

At last we have running water again and this makes life much easier.  I've only played a little with Namara  in her stable because I've been too tied to play in the snow.  It now seems to be thawing so maybe I can get a game or two in, over Christmas.  Bit of brilliant news, granddaughter (aged 7) passed Level 1 with her pony - a lovely Christmas present for her.

Not a good day weatherwise for anything after shipping loads of water around as everything was frozen so I left doing anything until this evening.  All we did was lift and waggle fetlocks and it took a surprisingly long time before she relaxed her joint and let them move freely.  If we still under snow tomorrow I'll do more of the same and just maybe move up to the knee.

As there doesn't appear to be a physical problem I've decided to treat her annoyance at having her girth area and between her front legs as emotional and have started using the friendly game with approach and retreat, so all saddling work has been suspended for a while - it looks like bareback work if I want to ride.  Whatever this issue is, she is still very content and friendly, so I'm not being held personally responsible for this, although I obviously am as I have had her from a yearling.