Just a couple of road rides over the weekend for Chunky. I was foot solider and walked the 2.5 miles on Saturday and 3 miles on Sunday. Didn't want to risk to bike after my op last week. I actually enjoyed the walks but boy is my hip complaining today.
Billy is so bored doing nothing, the two boys are fighting when I get them into the tack up area. Normally I just have them loose in there. When they were both in work it was relatively calm theyd just chill eating out the haynets or stand admiring the view. Now Im playing with fire, watch the ears back, dodge the rush and bite each other. Billy has a habit of biting Chunky on the bum and I have to stay clear of leg shots from Chunkys back leg.
Leave one in the field and theres separation anxiety and they charge round. Particularly Billy. Obviously not sensible to leave him out to charge round when hes already severely lame.
Think Im going to have to start walking Billy out in hand. Did try this on Thursday when the farrier was doing Chunky. Billy was on his toes when he saw the new cows theyve turned out on the hill. He was ready to spin round and tank off. I was trying to stay positive and calm, quite tricky as Ive been run over by Billy previously. I was actual bricking it.
Neither of the boys are impressed with the cows, They never batted an eye at my cows grazing the other side of the fence, but both have bolted off across the field a couple of times in the last when the cows were walking on the footpath directly adjacent to there paddock. The one day I was just putting hay out, cow appears and both boys almost ran me over as they charged away.
Chunkys eyes were on stalks and he planted both days when he came face to face with them when we went out for his hack. He looked quite elegant with his head up, gazing at them. I stayed calm and tried not to convey to his rider that I was waiting for him to spook and spin. Fortunately he didnt.
A bit of clicker training with Billy this morning. I semi fixed his lack of connection peeing off across the field issue. Had to take my white tape down from the other field where I have the jumps normally set up. Cows need to graze the area soon, so I put the tape up to make a round pen around the cones. Dont think he was too impressed but Ive had enough of trying to retrieve him from across the field. So Im going to work him in a smaller area for now. Ive been watching videos on how to connect with him better and will try the tips out when I am not doing a rushed play session.
Shame it was on a dark, rainy torch lit hack at 7pm but still - didn't think we'd achieve that this year!
