The highs and lows of babies. The plan last night was to walk Niko up the lane only as far as my neighbour but ones school, looking for quality rather than quantity, do some yielding and do some more back at home and turn him out on the grass, sub 10 mins.
It started well, he walked out great, rated well, did some nice yielding next to her school, didn’t get silly when her horse in the paddock behind started calling. Then set off home, then her ponies in the next paddock out started walking along towards us in the distance and Niko caught sight of them and wanted to turn back towards them. I just asked him to keep walking away, he kept trying to swing around, I kept walking, then he reared and leapt forwards
I yielded him a bit more and carried on home, did a bit of walk lunging and yielding in the driveway which he did great, then went into the front paddock and asked him to lunge at the trot for the first time which he did fantastically for a first proper try, a bit sticky but just because he was unsure. Then turned him loose.
Overall another good session apart from the rearing. I’ve spent all night going over it, trying to decide if I asked too much, if I did something to set him off, but I really don’t think I did. I wasn’t stressed or worried, I didn’t stumble or put too much pressure on. I really think it was just a little bit of a temper tantrum and his energy level got to high.
I really want to finally get him walking up the lane, it’s the most direct access to the forest but those 2 cobs will occasionally chase alongside you, then further up there’s a big herd that will come flat out across the field at you and run alongside often squabbling between themselves and it’s a narrow path and you’re stuck between 2 fences. How do you get a horse good with that other than just doing it? I think the best bet is with a solid lead horse for him, but I don’t feel happy leading 2 just in case it goes tits up, going to have to recruit someone to help me I think.