RachelB
Well-Known Member
My second "oh my god I can't believe my luck" post this week!
I took Berlin out to a lesson today with my regular instructor, but at a different venue. Usually we hack to my instructor's yard, but today we had to get the trailer out. Berlin has only really ever been out in a trailer to the vet or the saddler, and he isn't a brilliant loader, but I just knew this was going to be a good day and his owner was amazed when he went almost straight in. We got to the venue, got B out and he stood with one leg resting, having a nosey around (especially at the carriage drivers who were having lessons in the indoor). I tacked up and after half an hour we had all arrived so we went into the outdoor school for our lesson. The outdoor is rather scary as the wind whistles loudly through the roof of the indoor (right next door to one long side of the outdoor) and on the other side are loads of poles and jump stands (Berlin doesn't "do" poles). One short side is also home to a number of trailers. Well blow me down if Berlin, the spookiest and wussiest horse I have ever met, didn't just walk straight in and not look at anything! He then proceeded to work really, really nicely and didn't even blink when my instructor dragged some cones out of the side of the school for us to trot round.
I had it in my head that when the poles come out (the format of our RC lessons is flatwork first, then poles and possibly jumps for those interested, which does not include Berlin as he has a pole phobia!) I'd leave, but Berlin was being so incredibly well-behaved that I stayed. We started by weaving in and out of poles set at about canter pole distance, just in walk, to get them bending and listening. Usually Berlin wouldn't go within 100ft of one pole let alone five in a row, but he calmly walked in between the horse-eating coloured poles without even thinking!
We ended up with four poles set evenly around a circle, with us all walking, trotting and cantering over the poles. That is the first time Berlin and I have ever managed to go over a pole, and it only took me about two minutes to get him over (instead of twenty and me having to get off and drag him over!)
Berlin's owner is absolutely thrilled and I am totally astounded and over the moon at Berlin's behaviour and my riding. It really does prove that if you think the day will go well, and have that positive attitude, that it really can!
Sorry, I probably should have jumped on the bandwagon and titled this "self-indulgent" but I think it's justified really. I hope everyone else had (and continues to have) as good a weekend as I have so far!
I took Berlin out to a lesson today with my regular instructor, but at a different venue. Usually we hack to my instructor's yard, but today we had to get the trailer out. Berlin has only really ever been out in a trailer to the vet or the saddler, and he isn't a brilliant loader, but I just knew this was going to be a good day and his owner was amazed when he went almost straight in. We got to the venue, got B out and he stood with one leg resting, having a nosey around (especially at the carriage drivers who were having lessons in the indoor). I tacked up and after half an hour we had all arrived so we went into the outdoor school for our lesson. The outdoor is rather scary as the wind whistles loudly through the roof of the indoor (right next door to one long side of the outdoor) and on the other side are loads of poles and jump stands (Berlin doesn't "do" poles). One short side is also home to a number of trailers. Well blow me down if Berlin, the spookiest and wussiest horse I have ever met, didn't just walk straight in and not look at anything! He then proceeded to work really, really nicely and didn't even blink when my instructor dragged some cones out of the side of the school for us to trot round.
I had it in my head that when the poles come out (the format of our RC lessons is flatwork first, then poles and possibly jumps for those interested, which does not include Berlin as he has a pole phobia!) I'd leave, but Berlin was being so incredibly well-behaved that I stayed. We started by weaving in and out of poles set at about canter pole distance, just in walk, to get them bending and listening. Usually Berlin wouldn't go within 100ft of one pole let alone five in a row, but he calmly walked in between the horse-eating coloured poles without even thinking!
Berlin's owner is absolutely thrilled and I am totally astounded and over the moon at Berlin's behaviour and my riding. It really does prove that if you think the day will go well, and have that positive attitude, that it really can!
Sorry, I probably should have jumped on the bandwagon and titled this "self-indulgent" but I think it's justified really. I hope everyone else had (and continues to have) as good a weekend as I have so far!
