Pay attention human!

Today 'Mr F' and 'I' accompanied 'Lillian' and 'Luke' up to the menage were I previously had a lesson. 'Luke' hadn't been there before and in view of future lessons that 'Lillian' planned to have in there with 'Luke' we thought it was a good idea to get him used to the surroundings.

Just what I should have done prior to my lesson I had. Although I am lucky in as much as 'Mr F' is quite harmless when he spooks and gets his bearings quite quickly. 'Luke' is quite different and can be a bit of a 'loose cannon'.

Two for me noteworthy observations today:

1) I seem to finally have found a way to motivate 'Mr F' to stride out a little quicker, something I was experimenting with the previous days in the fields. I cannot really describe it in words but it is perhaps as though I am walking with him via my seat, or more precisely, via my bottom, kind of as though my bottom becomes an extension of his legs ... well that is as good as I can describe it.

Changing speeds in trott have become easier and work fine most of the time IF I position myself properly. 

I have been reading in 'Tom Dorrance's book a little. I have been dipping in and out of various horsemanship books but Tom is the only one who's thoughts about the horse I really enjoy. There is a great honesty, purity, patience and warmth in his writings. Every now and then I dip into the book and read a few lines. I am still struggeling to understand what he means by 'feel' ... yet after today I think I am getting a glimpse at what he may mean ... 

All our riding up in the fields has allowed me to experiment and we have reached a point where subtle changes of seat and hip positioning result in a reaction from 'Mr F'. In fact I am surprised how little effort it takes with regards to aids and I would go as far as it being almost a case of mind over matter. But only if I am not distracted and of course only if 'Mr F' is willing to cooperate! I am fully aware of that which is why our partnership is so important - it creates a willingness to work together.

2) On the way back, rather than using the road, we returned home over the open fields. We had to ride through the very field where 'Luke' bucked off  'Lillian' last year (he actually run over her, too - read: A very bumpy ride).
Quite understandably, it took 'Lillian' a bit of time to digest this event but she has been working with 'Luke' and he is learning to trust her. In turn he has clearly become more confident and in general the world seems to make a little more sense. Its almost as though he is beginning to take part in it rather than being all removed from it (being on an other planet, I used to say)

Today 'Luke' was great and all went fine.

'Mr F' however was teaching me yet another lesson: although it was morning, the sun had a lot of strength and it had become quite hot already with hardly a breeze. The flies have been bothering the horses all the way round. I usually try and carry a leafy branch to swat the flies where 'Mr F' can't reach while I'm in the saddle but I didn't do so this time.

'Mr F' had for some time on this ride been bothered by something in the girth region. I didn't think it was the girth itself as I tested that throughout the ride and I could not find anything visible that might be cause of his bother.

On our way back through the fields we took turns in opening and closing the gates.

It was 'Lillian's turn to open the gate. 'Mr F' and 'I' waited on the other side for 'Lillian' to shut the gate and for her to get back on. As is mostly the case, we were engrossed in one of our horse talks and I wasn't paying attention to what was going on otherwise.

Suddenly 'Mr F' went down on his knees! If there were warning signs of his intention, I sure did not recognise them. He clearly was going down with the intention to roll.  

I got out of the saddle quickly and both myself and 'Mr F' - who was on his knees right now, were a little perplex about it all. It appears that he was equally not part of the moment as he seemed to have forgotten he had a rider! It was quite odd as we both looked at each other for a moment, surprised by the circumstances and he got back up.

Something bothered him - if it was me than it was probably my lack of attention! He wanted to get rid of something that annoyed him - again: if it was me, he probably would have bucked me off. 

I took this as a message to go and check once more that girth and investigated it more thoroughly where it had been bothering him all along. And low and behold, there was a fly trapped under there - just goes to show how loose our girth sometimes is, and how sensitive they are ...the princess and the pea springs to mind!