30th Sept. 2009 - Barney Was as Good as Gold

8. October 2009 by admin.

A whirlwind of activity as usual and I am away at the Dogs Trust near Salisbury tomorrow, then off to teach in Ireland at the weekend. Dan’s little Appaloosa mare Kandy K arrived from Guernsey yesterday and all the horses have been great today. We have a very calm atmosphere here at Tilley Farm and new horses generally settle really well. Everything is going to plan. Sue had a riding lesson on Barney yesterday and he was as good as gold so she has taken him home to continue with the work. He is definitely freer in the trot but for now we are suggesting that Sue concentrates on walk work as it is, after all, the mother of all gaits. Many people underestimate how much balance and movement can be improved through walking exercises and we certainly don’t want to rush Barney and set him back.

Sam is learning to chest line drive which will help him overcome his concerns on the lunge. We have also started the in hand exercises for lunging so that he can stay calm and not rush forward when on the long lines. Tina rode him today for the first time and he really started to loosen and use his back. I spent three hours yesterday washing down my stables at home (I don’t live at Tilley Farm) and they are ready for the winter although I am now tempted to paint the stable doors if I find the time. Now I’m off to walk the dogs before clearing the rest of the hedge trimmings that have been cut along the foot paths, then I will try to persuade Jon that he would love to sand my stable doors at home. As a girl I would far rather do all the pretty bits than the boring preparation work and if I wait for Tony to do it I may not have any donkeys left as they only live for 30 years or so.

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