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We just had a good lesson with Tracey Duncan, Benny still votes with his feet when under pressure but he needs to learn to stay connected and make life easier for us both. Lots of galloping around until he decided to stay more connected. We then went over to the sandschool, he was much less anxious this time and after a couple of times running off we got some nice figures of eights and trotting over a pole – after I tacked him up.
We then walked and trotted a clover leave pattern. He did try to nap to the gate so had to focus really hard to keep him straight and listening.
Ended the session with a canter, only half a school as I am not very good at sitting to it and felt he was getting strong towards the gate.
Used a stick on his shoulder to ask him to go forward – something I always did with my other horses as they bucked if I use it on their hindquarters. Just a tap and then wait 3 seconds before another tap if he didn’t respond.

Good session for us both – thank you Tracey.

I have been riding my daughters horse Smoke so hence the lack of Benny post – a friend has been riding him.

Benny is feeling the heat, he has started itching and has rubbed some of his mane off. I bought some soothing cream to put on and washed it with lavendar wash.
I got his girth mixed up with Smokes so arrived to ride with a girth way too short. The solution was to ride bareback, managed to get on Ok and walk round but still not brave enough to trot.
Today armed with the correct girth I played with Benny but he didn’t seem very lively – much too hot to expend any energy! When I got on he was quite happy to walk or rather amble about. A little encouragement got him into trot and we did some good point to point and circles. A few steps of shoulder fore on a circle and some nice steps of shoulder and quarters in down the long sides.
I definitely need to get in the saddle more often, am waiting for my western saddle to arrive – then we will be off trail riding again.
Benny does seem more laid back now – I think he has at last settled down into the herd.

Today I played a little online with Benny before getting on. He seemed relaxed but a little fidgety with the Light Rider bridle as I had left the strap on that allows it to be used as a headcollar. I thought maybe it was tickling him so got off and removed the bridle and put on the halter. We did some circles, turns, serpentines and lateral work in walk. Then up to trot for a few circuits.
When I dismounted and took off the halter Benny stayed with me backing up when I did and walking by my side. I asked him to trot round me and got a circle in one direction but when I asked him to change direction he left. He trotted round the arena so I asked him to canter – I cantered along with him and he seemed to be enjoying himself. I disengaged him and drew him towards me, praised him and gave a treat. Then sent him out again in the opposite direction, again cantered alongside him – it is getting me fit too. Ended the session with a walk round and another backup.

Yippee Benny and I went on a nice calm hack today. A friend came an collected us and escorted us home again. I played online first and he was quite lively – leaving a couple of times. After the last leaving I just left him standing in the arena whilst I went and did some tidying up and put on my hat and back protector (for peace of mind). He didn’t move just watched me, when I went back into the arena he came back to me. Was good for saddling and then walked round and did some more circles online. I hopped on and walked calmly round the arena, lateral flexion and backup was fine. Then trotted from a breath and slowed and sped up using seat bones. Not quite 10 minutes each rein but enough to warm up and get Benny relaxed. After this we did some patterns – 10 metre circles in each corner then across the arena to B or E (depending which way we went) then another circle and back across the arena to the opposite corner.
Then some serpentines and weaves, followed by some lateral work.

My friend then arrived for our outing, another nervous lady came along too, the horses got on well and settled to some good quiet hacking, a little trotting to get round some of the sharper bends. Benny is perfect in traffic and tucked himself in the side when asked. We rode down a path between 2 fields of horses who came to say hello, Benny was fine apart from wanting to go and sniff at them.There was one slight spook as he got a little left behind and was gathering speed to catch up when a dog barked at him – so he cantered down the road until he caught up with his friend. I was a little bouncy in the saddle as he took off but by the time he got to Champ I had managed to get myself sitting again. Then we had an uneventful ride home. Very pleased with Benny.

Benny lively as usual online – left twice and careered round the school, then stopped and looked at me. Eventually he stayed with me. Tacked him up and did some more online work and then put the Light Rider bridle over halter and walked him round. Tested flexion, did rope around the quarters them got on. We just walked using seat bones to alter pace and halt. Rode off the halter first then used the Light Rider. He was very good and listening. Turns, random circles and straight lines. Serpentines and some leg yielding, not a long session but a good one. Will have to do little and often and troth 10 minutes on each rein next time.


Another interesting session with Benny, after last week when I was about to give up, I regrouped and tried again. Tracey Duncan came to help with a 45 foot line. This has the advantage of being long enough and firm enough for me to be able to keep Benny online without him being bothered about it. There was no tension on the line as he needed to move his feet again in the arena across from the field. He wasn’t quite as hyper as last time but still on adrenaline. He was allowed to do whatever he felt he needed to do at first, then once he was  more settled and rejoined me we worked on a few figures of 8. The first 2 were fine but then he needed to move again and went off with me trying to keep in zone 5 whilst not pulling on the line, so he feels more like he is at liberty.

Gradually he reconnected and mirrored my walking, with lots of turns around the school. There were times when he needed to go around the arena but he did circle closer and closer keeping his ear on me. He managed to sidepass along the pole both away and towards me, he does like going sideways so that is a little reward. Lots of fuss and praise when he got it correct.

Then he left and I kept him in canter round the arena, he changed direction by himself with me just trying to keep a neutral contact with the line, he did some great lead changes – all I need now is to get him to do the same under saddle!

I am now very stiff and aching after all my running about!!

All I need now is to get Benny more connected so he can settle faster and be ridden safely.

Benny very lively today online. He didn’t really want to be with me as he kept looking to see what Mel was doing. We did some stick to me, backup and sideways at liberty before he decided to leave. Although he did come back to me when I looked to disengage his hind quarters. He got a bit animated in trot and came at me quite fast so quickly had to stop him and redirect on the other rein. Online he did hindquarter and forequarter yields and then was allowed to do his party trick of sideways! We then played with changes of direct round the barrels, some nice turns but I wasn’t interesting enough so he left! He enjoyed a good grooming session, lots of coat shedding. I hope we will get more connected as we do more positive reinforcement – lots of praise and scratches plus a treat occasionally. He played touch it with the barrels and the pedestal so I praised him for that, no micro-managing he did it all on his own.

Think he had a bit too much negative reinforcement last week and I will have to build up trust again. He didn’t want to play the catching game.

Day 5 at JRFS started with more online work, Benny not too thrilled with all this work and decided to leave twice. Rebecca helped me with some strategies to get him more connected. Direct and indirect rein changes on a circle were what worried him so we did some sideways along the rail until he relaxed. Used the stirrups to simulate the leg position for the hindquarter yields both at a standstill and whilst walking. Much better then when I rode him. We got some decent hindquarter yields and turns. Finished the session with a canter, I had difficulty sitting the trot so Rebecca reminded me to use my core to stabilise and got me to use one hand on the saddle horn and the outside hand back on his rump so I was sitting up. Rebecca stood in the corner to encourage him forward and we cantered the longside of the school. We both need to get fitter to maintain this, both physically and emotionally. a really enjoyable week with lots to think about and lots to play with.