Had a play with Balthazar last night and was very pleased. Think sometimes because I feel somewhat guilty in asking him to do anything, I mean he doesn't work for me, does he? Does he have a choice? And because of that my cues are fraught with doubt. Not that they aren't clear, or as clear as my level of expertise can make them, but I am sending mixed messages because I am not certain that he shouldn't just be left alone in the paddock with his mates. Who am I to tell him what to do? That's why forming some kind of relationship with him is so important. To allay my guilt if nothing else.

Anyway, we did some pretty nice yields of the fore and hindquarter. Even asked and got complete circles which I usually don't ask for. Then asked for some circling and he started off very uninspired and soon ran out of gas entirely. Gave him a big surge of my energy and got him trotting and listening, both ways. Then again I was lost a bit. Do I drill when he's already done it? What now? Decided to take him through to the grass above the septic tank which is alluringly green and fresh as a reward before letting him loose. Came through the gate and thought why don't I try and drive him rather than leading (leading is a whole 'nother subject - no contact, just the weight of the rope and my intention. When we were grooming he decided he'd graze - don't tie him any longer - told him 'no' with body language and that was that. He didn't make another attempt but stood stock still while I finished).

So we were through the gate and I was trying not to move my feet to drive him but to move his. Backfired at first because he backed instead of going forward but we soon got our conversation going and he allowed himself to be driven, at the trot, to the tank. Then had the bright idea of stopping him grazing and then allowing him (part of the Waterhole Ritual). That was illuminating. At first he said no and tried to graze but I drove him off again. He paid attention then. Waited a moment and then invited him to graze. Did that once more and then drove him back to the gate where I invited him to graze on some grass there.

This morning when I went to say hello Balthazar didn't smell and then make a nipping gesture as usual. He politely smelled back. I invited him to companion walk with me and he did. Immediately. It was great.

I'm starting to think that less is more. Nothing would've been gained by going on and on yesterday. Certainly there is huge room for improvement but when we just play around with it, looking for small gains in alacrity, precision, etc. we will still get there in the end - with a horse that is willing to work rather than yawning or worse, wrinkling his muzzle in resentment. One other thing I tried yesterday was getting him to move his off side front foot onto a poinciana seed pod while I stayed in one spot. He did brilliantly - about 4 inches away. That was close enough because he really paid attention and tried.