Todays lesson was spent mostly in walk and it was an eye opener regards contact and training philosophy.
Arena whilst not solid and had some give and was OK for walk and trot so that is what we'd planned but we rarely got out of walk.
C does not IMO truly take the contact in walk, yes I can fake it, but he doesn't take it and today was about not faking it.
Did some walk -> halt and turn about (as opposed to on) the forehand and walk piris. Clare asked how C was feeling and to me he felt like a school boy saying shan't and pouting, not being naughty at all but just sat there on the sofa not wanting to get off. With the odd star jump spook thrown in 
So Clare asked if she could have a sit and her opinion was that he felt confused and the rug had been pulled a bit from under him with regards to him taking as opposed to me taking the contact. Hence the sitting on the sofa not wanting to get off.
So she did similar work and he tried a few spooks with Clare but of course to no avail. She thinks he is but was also suprised at the fact he isn't easy, she doesn't think he is difficult he just isn't easy and if you don't ask correctly, he doesn't try to guess, you just don't get. Seems fine to me as that is pretty much me too 
At some points he took the contact down and deep, Clare said as long as he is polite doesn't snatch and doesn't take a heavy contact then he may as it is a symptom he isn't truely through and he should be allowed to but then ask him kindly to come up, then ask for a true stretch forwards and down. I did query this as have been previously told to give him a kick and get his head up.
She then got off and thanked him and I got back on and he felt so different, just clearer in his mind what I was after.
Clare told me to trust my instincts as to what what I felt; as from the ground when I said about him not wanting to get off the sofa she couldn't see what I meant but getting on she could feel it.
I do feel that in the past I've ridden him too assertively.
Clare may not be be a long term trainer for me, I don't have that foresight but she feels like the trainer for now, who can address the issues I want to address so I can look Sue and Pip in the face at supper.
Homework
Legs think long long legs.
Make sure sat on whole of underneath.
Outside rein and give inside rein
Todays lesson was spent mostly in walk and it was an eye opener regards contact and training philosophy.
Arena whilst not solid and had some give and was OK for walk and trot so that is what we'd planned but we rarely got out of walk.
C does not IMO truly take the contact in walk, yes I can fake it, but he doesn't take it and today was about not faking it.
Did some walk -> halt and turn about (as opposed to on) the forehand and walk piris. Clare asked how C was feeling and to me he felt like a school boy saying shan't and pouting, not being naughty at all but just sat there on the sofa not wanting to get off. With the odd star jump spook thrown in
So Clare asked if she could have a sit and her opinion was that he felt confused and the rug had been pulled a bit from under him with regards to him taking as opposed to me taking the contact. Hence the sitting on the sofa not wanting to get off.
So she did similar work and he tried a few spooks with Clare but of course to no avail. She thinks he is but was also suprised at the fact he isn't easy, she doesn't think he is difficult he just isn't easy and if you don't ask correctly, he doesn't try to guess, you just don't get. Seems fine to me as that is pretty much me too
At some points he took the contact down and deep, Clare said as long as he is polite doesn't snatch and doesn't take a heavy contact then he may as it is a symptom he isn't truely through and he should be allowed to but then ask him kindly to come up, then ask for a true stretch forwards and down. I did query this as have been previously told to give him a kick and get his head up.
She then got off and thanked him and I got back on and he felt so different, just clearer in his mind what I was after.
Clare told me to trust my instincts as to what what I felt; as from the ground when I said about him not wanting to get off the sofa she couldn't see what I meant but getting on she could feel it.
I do feel that in the past I've ridden him too assertively.
Clare may not be be a long term trainer for me, I don't have that foresight but she feels like the trainer for now, who can address the issues I want to address so I can look Sue and Pip in the face at supper.
Homework
Legs think long long legs.
Make sure sat on whole of underneath.
Outside rein and give inside rein
So lesson with Clare should have cancelled or asked her to ride as not been to work Wed/Thurs as sore throat, cold, cough and ear ache so have worked from home, so not ridden since Tuesday and back went again last night so am dosed up on pain killers (must go to chemist and check I can do brufen and paracetamol two hours alternate)
Feel like I was sleep walking not having got to sleep very early last night waiting for pain killers to kick in so the lovely smiley Clare arrives and gets to see C in his less than 
mood; you couldn't say he was naughty as he doesn't do anything and that is kind of the point he doesn't give any co operation, doesn't do anything he has not been asked to do, just not with you.
This is of course where the training holes really show when he is not giving of himself.
Have to say I don't like the contact we get on days like today. It is like holding hands with a wriggly child who doesn't want to hold hands but you need to so you're trying to hold hands without doing a death grip (tempting!) on the child's hand.
So worked on how to work around him when in this mood which is usual when he hasn't been in regular work.
Started off walk -> halt and moving him off on a specified hind leg, seat bone forward to allow and visualise and allow. Then trying to halt him as I ride him 'up' to the bridle ; so think diaphragm up as you halt, to lighten seat and to allow hind legs to come under you, sit straight though else he will rein back.
So lots of SI down long side on circle, 10m canter circles then some trot half pass which as Clare said sounds mad when he isn't connecting but he enjoys it so use it to jolly him into working. Started on walk piris to the left we're pretty good to the right he sticks or I stick or we both stick either way we get stuck.
Contact issue also down to fact he/we likes to take inside rein too strongly, to correct take the contact I want with outside rein, soft inside and occasionally ask for inside flexion, but mostly keep giving inside rein.
Need to decide what road I take, keep riding without spurs and sort out him being off leg whilst possibly being a bit out of comfort zone as different feel or go back to how we were.
Nicky out today for follow up visit.
Boy clearly happier to be treated, Nicky doesn't think the uneven muscle just behind poll is my training but injury mediated.
In fact Nicky doesn't think his issues are down to my riding/training :phew:
She is very pleased with progress.
Next visit in a month, may have to postpone Annabelle for now