(Whispers) I think we may be through the other side of the napping phase. Fingers and toes all crossed. We had a lesson at home two weeks ago with no napping and some much more relaxed walk and trot, so we left it there. Been in the school three times since with similar results and not even the smallest hint of thinking about napping. I'm going to continue with that for another week or so then hopefully another lesson and maybe reintroduce some canter.
Hacking continues to be brilliant. We boxed out for a cafe hack yesterday and the first bridleway turned out to be a nightmare - heavily rutted, overgrown and a semi-fallen hedge in one place. I ended up flat against his neck gripping the bottom of the next strap to get through a particularly narrow and low section and he kept walking, negotiated it all then waited for his buddy on the other side. Led a couple of trots and canters while his 'wing man', 16yo Pocholo, bounced and leapt behind him, and led P past some scary geese on the road.
Brilliant at the cafe, he stood quietly and only very politely tried to steal cake 🤣. He was lovely with a big family who wanted to pat him. Wasn't keen on me mounting from a concrete 'mushroom' but stood still for me to mount from the ground - it's the first time I've tried to do so and was good to know that I have enough bounce to do it when needed! I was beaming from ear to ear when we got back, I love a good hacking horse, it's a great mental break from work and schooling.
A few photos from our hack (sorry for the random blocking out of faces, I don't like to share other people on a public forum without explicit permission).
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