Sharing a little bit of joy

B

BBP

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This post has absolutely no purpose other than to celebrate the fact that the bonkers black pony continues to be utterly perfect! As you will no doubt have gathered, he and I have something of an alternative relationship, we don't do many grown up horse and rider things because we spend far too much time messing around or being bonkers.

So about 10 days ago I went to an Emma Massingale demonstration and came home inspired, as I'm sure a lot of people did. So off I wander to try out some stuff with the pony. Day 1 of playing, I try riding without reins and turning on a voice and leg cue. Of he goes turning left and right on cue, and straightening up if I say he's got it wrong. Hmm I think, that's a fluke. So day 2 I try it in the field, thinking without arena rails he would just be off doing his own thing. Nope, left and right, circles and weaving around poles on cue. Wow. Clever pony. But just in walk. He's a pretty quick pony in the trot and canter so no way he will listen once we up the speed, probably need a lot more time before we try that one. Day 3, I get impatient and he's being so good at walk so I think I'll try the trot. We do a whole 40 minute schooling session without touching the reins, he turns left, right, halts, reins back, does side pass each way, collects (a bit) and moves forwards. If he doesn't pick up the voice cue straight away a gentle touch on the side of his neck and he turns away from it. I have no idea how he understands all of this stuff so fast. I think I may own the smartest flippin horse in the world to have picked all of that up in just 3 training sessions spread over 5 days! He's just the absolute best horse in the whole world, despite his flaws and craziness. I just grin the whole time when we hang out together doing stuff like that. No replies necessary, just sharing my happy moment!

Sadly I don't have a video or photo for illustrations but I do believe a post is more interesting with a picture of a pony attached so I will pick an old one!
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Thanks! I'm making the most of posting about his good stuff as it seemed like for a long while I was only posting that everything was going wrong. Yesterday we got ambitious again and tried it completely bareback with no rope or halter and yet again he amazed me by doing everything right, even tricky things like centre lines. I'll admit we only did it in walk yesterday, I'm not still enough in my legs and seat bareback so I think my legs and seat would be telling him to go all sorts of different ways without me knowing it! It occurred to me that if he was a 'normal' horse who did normal horse things like hack alone and xc and sj stuff I probably wouldn't have spent so much time playing all these games and wouldn't have quite the same relationship with him. I used to be a bit resentful that I couldn't safely or confidently do a lot of the stuff I have always done with other horses, but now I just focus on the stuff we both enjoy, like hacking in company, dressage schooling bitless and playing silly games, and it's so much more rewarding than wishing they were different.
 
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