Success!

[Shantara]

Alas, I didn't take my camera today, so no pics. (I'm sure you get sick of seeing that horse anyway, haha!)

So! Ned was fine on the hack as usual today, we had some good canters and stuff...but it's after we got home that I'm proud of

Ned's very very funny about his hind legs, he hates having them touched and has even lashed out once or twice in the past. I was grooming him for longer than usual since I had to wait an extra 35mins or so for my lift. I groomed his rear end and I gradually worked my way down his leg and even touched his hoof! He just stood there like a donkey! Hooray! He let me do both with no fuss what so ever! I'm so glad, I really wanted to put hoof oil on him for shows, but I had no idea how I was going to do that...but yay, we're getting over that

Our 2nd 'yay' was I actually got him out in the show field...ALONE! I wasn't riding, but rather leading and even then he usually kicks up a storm and has even been known to rear. We had none of that today! He had a few little spooks, but was over all fine. Plenty of snorting though
He even had a roll!

I'm just so chuffed Hopefully we'll be prepared for the shows next year!
I also worked a lot on my aids out on the hack, but he's so good, he doesn't really need it. It's just in the school and alone he doesn't listen.
When the weather warms up a bit, and I can drive (EEK! I booked my test!!) I can get up there every day and work on manners and stuff

YAY!

 

[sheep]

Nice to hear you are making some good progress with your Ned. He sounds like a very quirky sort so you should be very pleased with yourself!

Would you think about buying him when you are in that position? Hope you get your driving test soon!

 

[Feathered]

Well done you and Ned, Roll on 2012 eh!

 

[Shantara]

Nice to hear you are making some good progress with your Ned. He sounds like a very quirky sort so you should be very pleased with yourself!

Would you think about buying him when you are in that position? Hope you get your driving test soon!

Thank you If he does even the slightest thing well, I'm like "MUM! LOOK WHAT NED DID!!!" I'm sure she's utterly sick of it

I would love to buy him, but his owner isn't selling (I have asked!) but she said if she ever does sell, I'll be her very first choice In her own words "I wouldn't want to try and fob a kooky thing like that off on some poor unsuspecting sole. You know him and I think you could do some good work. I'm not selling him, I've fallen in love too! But if I do, you're my first choice"
Still, I have a good thing going I know he won't go anywhere yet and when I can get there, I can go and see him whenever! Almost better than owning him

 

[sheep]

Sounds like you have the ideal arrangement! Looking forward to seeing pictures of him behaving himself at a show sometime soon

 

[Shantara]

Sounds like you have the ideal arrangement! Looking forward to seeing pictures of him behaving himself at a show sometime soon

Yea, it's rather good I can either go up every day, act like he's my own...or completely ignore riding for months (Did that once, it was AWFUL!! Another reason I have decided boys aren't for me ) and I know he'll get good care and attention

I have my fingers crossed I can get him to be so good at the shows, he gets so wound up by everything...the excitement, fear, wanting to jump, not wanting the leave the others...I think it blows both our minds a bit XD

I hope to make a 'before and after' video...see if our hard work will make any sort of difference

 

[Shantara]

Rather than do another thread, I thought I'd just add to this one, since it's not too old.

More success with Neddy today!! I couldn't be more proud
I went for a hack with 2 friends and we had a great time, had lots of canters and Ned was very good, he didn't at all strong, even when we galloped!

Anyway, that was untill the dog that was with us, grabbed hold of a sleeping deers leg! I've never heard such a noise!! The horses bolted, but we got them back easily and the owner of the dog went back and although he called the dog off the deer's leg, it still chased it across the field before coming back, silly thing! (Deer was fine, btw)

After that, Ned was on his toes, but still good. I could tell it'd over excited him, but after a short while, I figured I could use this to my advantage. I let go of any contact I had and let him go (in walk) and see what happened. He powered off (still in walk) and went right passed the horse in front :O!!!!

This is the horse who NEVER leads...EVER! He usually rears and spins if you ask.
He marched off and got really far ahead He was looking around, but I just sat there quietly, stroking a strand on mane and talking to him softly. He was such a good boy and EVEN lead passed the scary new steps!
We nearly got all the way home in front, but a scary squirrel ran across his path and he stopped dead. I managed to urge him on for a few more steps, while the others caught up, so he hadn't won.

We're going to try and have at LEAST 3mins in front every time we hack now.

We had another grooming session and again, I managed to touch his back hooves

Woohoo!!