Following on from 'bummed out' post, a bit of good news about Antifaz

[PapaFrita]

Yesterday I took the gorgeous and always-wonderful PF (insert warm glow of pride here) to be shod. This is my chance to catch up on the goss and yesterday farrier was on tip top form. Amongst other things, we talked about Antifaz, who used to be ridden by a chap at his yard, and he told me absolute HORROR stories about the Ginger One charging into fences and basically throwing all his toys out of the pram when his rider so much as moved in the saddle... Apparently he just couldn't be stopped (or in fact upset in any way) I kept muttering "but he's so quiet now... " and "He doesn't do that any more" in an increasingly weak and whiny voice... I'm sure the farrier thinks I was lying.
Anyway, today I was practicing a row of fences at 16m apart. PF can do these in 5 or 4, but the Ginger One is most comfortable bounding through in 3. Today he did them perfectly in 4, allowed me to stop him even though we were heading towards stables AND I even jumped him 1.1m (about 3'8") Remember when 2'6" was a worry????
Anyway, I'm soooo thrilled with him I want to take him to the next show at the end of August

Rather selfishly though I hope that his owners don't find a buyer straight away...

 

[ruscara]

I have been searching for a sort of 'salaam' smilie! But all I can come up with is:

as I take my hat off to you!!

 

[teapot]

fab stuff

 

[PapaFrita]

Mr Potato Head!! thanks Caroline

I don't think anyone is quite as amazed as I am with A's transformation from Beast to Babe...

 

[PapaFrita]

Thanks Teapot

 

[Bess]

You've done really well with him then from the sounds of it.

 

[PapaFrita]

About a month ago I was ready to give up on him; he bucked and plunged for Argentina, was unstoppable in a gag, and couldn't really sustain canter on the left lead... AND I'd been riding him for three months!!

Although it will sound really corny, all I did was spend more time with him on the ground, lunged him on his weaker side to help his balance, and basically tried to get him to understand that I wasn't going to hurt him.

 

[Enfys]

It's not just Antifaz who has come on amazingly! It's YOU too, I've loved reading your posts over the months and you have achieved so much, not only with the lovely PF, but with Napoleon and now Antifaz.
I echo Marius-Mum in taking my hat off to you.

 

[PapaFrita]

Thankies Enfys! I'm much, much more confident now, and I feel more competent now, that's for sure!! All this riding plus TFT has worked wonders!

 

[JAK]

I really enjoy these updates PF & you & Antifaz are a proper 'team' now - I am so pleased to hear this, as I doubt this is something he's ever truly experienced before you came along!

A big 'thumbs up' to both of you!

 

[S_N]

OH WOW!!! Right - B & I are moving in for intensive training next sumemr - it will be cool enough for me by then!!

You have taken this

- done some of this

and this

- then done some of this

and then this

which led to this

and now you have this

and this

 

[PapaFrita]

hooray! Will be expecting you!!
Where did you get that first pic of the Ginger One???

 

[S_N]

I found them ALL here http://bestsmileys.com/pageindex.htm

 

[PapaFrita]

I like this one