19

Excellent, excellent, excellent! Again didn't work for two days because of weather so was interested in seeing how he was after the break (last time was Mug City!). He was already in the paddock so went out to meet him. He saw me so rewarded him coming to me and then continued to the wwylm circle. No evasions, no mugging! Granted, I did walk away a couple of times but he simply changed directions and followed me. He was mirroring much better too, taking a step back almost immediately rather than mulling it over as previously. The stallion behaviour, except for the nickering and dropping, was in abeyance too. Once, when he came up behind me and I thought he was going to mug, rather than doing so he turned his head away. I waited until he swung it back almost straight and c/t'd.

Another big joy from today happened as we walked the wwylm circle. I've been c/ting as he followed me but not attempting to position him at my shoulder (previously at my shoulder, with his stallion behaviour was not a good idea). Today I took a step, perhaps two, then c/t'd him so that he stayed at my shoulder rather than lagging behind then catching up to get the carrot. This worked well for the mirroring as well. Did one or two verbal hean downs and he complied almost immediately. Very proud of him. Big jackpot at the end.

One other thing, because he was at my shoulder it wasn't always possible to stretch his neck out to get the carrot, but even though his neck was arched he didn't go over the top stallion behaviour wise.