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Two sessions today. First one in a yard where we just worked on mirroring on his off side, not going forward and back but staying with me as I turned into him. Not too bad either. The second session was the same from his near side. Smelled manure on the way out. I just kept walking. The weight of the lead rope was all that was between us. I didn't walk to the end and pull or tug yet he still gave the manure up and walked up to me. Oh, started the session with the saddle pad again. Ears pinned. Wait, c/t when they relax. Went through that half a dozen times or more. He has no idea yet. His ears pinning like that shows just how much he hates the idea of being ridden. Won't go any further until he accepts the saddle pad with equanimity.

There was a horse and rider on the road. He looked at them, as expected but far more quickly than I expected he returned to work. I do think he's getting the idea of staying at my shoulder and starting to turn as I do. Having two sessions helps.

Afterwards went and sat on a stump in the yard. He smelled me over, still looking for carrots and even mouthed my hair but then started grazing. Thought he'd like his ears scratched but he wasn't in the mood at the time. A few minutes later I tried again on his other ear and he didn't mind. He's not a horse that likes being touched much although I did sneak in a hug of his neck.

Changed his feed, as I'd written earlier, to the Natural Horse by Pat Coleby. He's losing his summer coat and his winter coat is coming in. It's such a deep rich chestnut and still has a shadow of dappling on it. He looks really good.