Didn't ride but took Balthazar out for some pick out of sight of the other horses. He wanted to return to them but wasn't anxious so it is already becoming 'old hat'. Did some parelli stuff. Interesting in that he circled with energy without me asking for extra of same. Had all four feet booted up. He was fine about that but the offside front one spun on the hoof twice and had to be restrapped. Not happy about that. Will try with pads in and if that doesn't work put the hind boots on the front as they are a size smaller. The knee is almost normal.

Had our first ride at home. Balthazar was agitated at being separated from his buddies. His knee was much improved but the ride was more about going out and coming back rather than riding. He was good, hesitant at first to walk down the road but once we got going he walked out well - more from nervousness than any desire to go anywhere but we'll accept what we can get.

Before that however we had to get through the trauma of grooming and tacking up. He was so upset that he forgot I was standing nearby and bumped into me. Had to remind him that he did have to mind hismanners a little bit even if he was upset. Took him into the paddock for a bit of parelli work. Took awhile to get his attention but we did get it in the end. We even did a fairly competent version of the Falling Leaf exercise. Having worked through a few of the exercises, he was more settled and easier to handle.

Only rode up to the old house, now the home of Cooper the very large Bull Arab cross, who barked, if his deep cavernous Woof! could be labelled a bark, as we approached. I got off Balthazar hoping he would have a pick but he was too anxious. Returned home, had to circle him twice as he wasn't listening and getting worked up but all in all a very satisfactory ride.

First ride

So much for that invitation to ride. I've ridden Balthazar three times this week. Took him up to Peter's on Monday. Peter gave us some lessons in Parelli's Seven Games in The Playpen. Let me tell you about The Playpen. Peter has gone to a great deal of trouble and created a Parelli Paradise. He has caveletti, he has a tractor tire pedestal, he has a float ramp complete with flapping tarp roof and pink horse ball and painted breast bar. He has log jumps, barrel jumps and a water jump. Witches hats abound and every piece of equipment has been gaily painted. There is a huge squishy lime green Parelli ball and hot pink Tibetan prayer flags. The Playpen connects to the round yard with zen raked white gravel. Peter has put much time and effort into creating the perfect Parelli horse training environment.

This was the milieu Balthazar was led into on Monday morning. He recognized Jack and Emmy immediately. We left them to settle and went and had a coffee. Afterwards Peter took us through a few of the seven games. Weaknesses were discovered, differences explained and at the end, when we'd both been mentally stimulated, I put the Easy Boots (herein referred to as the booties) on Balthazar's feet. He was pretty good. The front ones he got used to fairly quickly. He never quite relaxed about the hind ones but was okay. I chose to remove the hind booties for our ride. We rode around The Playpen at first. Balthazar was fine. Then we headed out for a saunter up to Picnic Hill and back. I was a little scared. Balthazar's back came up beneath me and he was agitated; head tossing and trying to break into a faster gait, something I wasn't prepared to do. But we made it to the top without incident. Really, after more than 2 years of not being ridden, he did well.

On the return trip, things took a turn for the worse. He tossed his head, something he did on the way up the hill but on the way down it was constant, as was the wanting to jig jog. Again, his back was up beneath me and it seemed that it would take a very small spark to incite a major conflagration. I know Balthazar can buck. Wanted to avoid that if possible. We circled and circled and circled. Once his feet stopped moving I would let the rein go. I was riding in a bitless bridle but could still instigate the one rein 'stop'. Seemed every two or three steps I was having to circle him. At the very end, when we reached the old house, the other horses came galloping up to the fence. That was too much, I bailed. Balthazar had grown from 16 to 18 hands. Walked him into The Playpen, got on and rode him around. He was fine then, calm and focussed.

On Tuesday I went up again. Balthazar and I didn't do very well the previous day with yielding the forequarter to the left. I was positioned in the wrong spot, asking in the wrong way and getting circles instead of turns on the hindquarter. I was also getting frustrated. Peter tactfully suggested we move on to something else. Anyway, on the Tuesday we tried again and were much better. We also tried the Falling Leaf pattern in which the horse does half circles in front of you as you walk and we attempted figure 8's around two cones. It was all very calm and nurturing, much better than the day before. I didn't say anything but at one point when Peter was helping me he lightly smacked Balthazar on Monday to wake him up and get him to give. I didn't like that. We don't do that anymore. Not the end of the world but I'm grateful it was just the one instance as I didn't want to have to say anything. At any rate, the second day was much nicer. We rode out and although there was some head tossing, Balthazar was a different horse. So much so that I got off him before we returned to the yards. I'd always done that, stemming back from endurance days when getting off 5 or 10 minutes before arriving allowed blood flow to return to the area under the saddle. It's also a nice reward to get off, loosen the girth, run the stirrups up and walk beside your horse homeward.

One bad thing on Tuesday; while Peter and I were at the house for smoko, Balthazar was working himself into a frenzy because Emmy wasn't with him and managed to slice his leg open just below the knee. Only a surface cut although there was much blood. It is still swollen today but he's not lame and it's a clean wound.

Also had a play with Peter's tb mare Gypsy. She was horsing and consequently was a little obstreperous and squealy. She also had Peter's number and rang him down. He was scared of her and all she had to do was pin her ears or squeal or even make a move into his space to unnerve him. I don't blame him for being scared. I'm scared much of the time but as a bystander I could see what was going on. I took her in hand and after a few complaints she was good.

We ended up putting the saddle on her. I bellied up on her and as she didn't do anything so I sat astride her. Still nothing. Right, I said, your turn, Peter. And he did. I was very proud of him. He got on and she behaved impeccably. We left it at that.

Didn't go Wednesday but returned yesterday. Peter had a little play with Gypsy that he was pleased with and I had a play with Balthazar - ditto. After we'd worked them for awhile I suggested we take them out for a pick. After they'd eaten we tacked them up and went for another walk. Peter accompanied us parallel to their driveway. I would ride Balthazar down the 6km and meet Richard with the float at the bottom. Balthazar whinnied when Peter and Emmy turned back for home but did nothing else. He shouted a few times but kept moving. He did get somewhat excited when we did finally reach the bottom and I got off him but loaded beautifully.

So that's the story. I've ridden him and now only need to keep it up. No riding today as it's raining but perhaps tomorrow. Have made arrangements with Peter that I will go up on Thursdays to play with either Rebel, his other thoroughbred, or Gypsy while he plays with the other. The thing to do is to keep the momentum and motivation going. I've got John Curtin's property to ride through again so even though I have lost much of the riding trails I used to enjoy I still have two close to home that I can use.

Fed all the horses hay last night. Balthazar had lost a little weight while he was away I thought. Because he was so anxious to be reunited with Dakota and Pagan, I didn't try and clean him up from the ride but just turned him loose. So while he was eating hay I hand groomed him to work out most of the dirt and sticky sweat. He pinned his ears a little when I worked on his chest but he seemed okay with it overall. This morning he, after initially turning his head away when I greeted him, walked over to say hello. Very very happy with that.

Took Balthazar out of the paddock yesterday. It was late morning. Gave him a quick brush being mindful of his ticklish areas. That mindfulness was rewarded with very little ear pinning and sour expressions. I placed him in the middle of the yard rather than at the gate so we could start practicing ground tying or just staying where he's put. If he moved a foot I gently moved him back. He wanted to go to the gate leading to the other horses. Persevered without a big noise about it. Then I took him out to the road to graze. He was on his toes because Dakota was yelling for him so it was kind of a snatch and chew rather than a relaxed munch. Kept him out there until he relaxed a little then took him back and turned him loose with the others. They were waiting for him in the yards so he didn't have to go racing off. But that pent up energy had to come out. He stood at the entrance to the paddocks with the others behind him for awhile then raced down the hill.

This morning he walked away from me when I tried to say hello. I'm getting a little disheartened again. I didn't know any of this stuff when I was endurance riding. The bond I built up with Drifter and Keziah, even Dakota, was one of bum time in the saddle. We spent so many hours together some kind of relationship had to form. Looks like we are going to Peter's on Monday for our Parelli 7 games lesson. I am going to get on Balthazar then. Have that first ride then, depending upon how it went, carry on at home. He'll pin his ears and look cranky and not like it very much but he'll get used to it. It will become routine, or 'Old Hat' as Tom Roberts would say. That's why I need to get him out of the paddock again today. Just so that he knows when he's removed from the company of his buddies he will be returned to them as well.

I either have to make up my mind to ride and do things to and with him that he won't like (being ridden, taken away from his buddies) or give up riding forever as a moral and ethical decision. That's the crux of the matter. Do I have the moral right to subject another living creature to my will? Guess I'll find out.

Balthazar Says Hello

This morning when I went out to say hello to everyone and remove Pagan's rug before turning them out, Balthazar boldly came up to say hello. He's Never done that before. I didn't work with him yesterday. They are fed hay on Saturday's, a nice treat for them and a break for us. Whether his friendly overture stems from working with him the night before, I don't know. I did spend some time sharing territory with them yesterday but I was really using that as an excuse to try and meditate as Richard was in the house and it's difficult for me when he is here. I took my stool and sat under a tree. None of the horses came over to investigate but they knew I was there. Anyway, thought it was worth noting Balthazar's behaviour this morning.

Really have to make up my mind about how I'm going to be. I'm still halfway apologetic that I've even asking him to do anything. Balthazar can certainly pick up on that. Played around tonight with a few of the seven games. He did very well with turns on the forehand and hindquarters (yielding), backing up and coming forward, less so circling (and worryingly and something I've forgotten to mention before now, Balthazar is very slightly lame circling right and has been for a few weeks. No swelling, nothing obvious in his foot. Lee was here last week, saw nothing. No idea what it is but he's already 'resting' and has been for over 2 years so bushing him isn't going to make any difference). Anyway, he hasn't much energy, lifted mine and he was better. Worked on getting him to sidestep, wanted to place his offside front on a leaf purely by me directing him without moving from the spot I was standing on. We got about 6 inches away. But he'd quit and I'd have to up my energy (pressure) to get him back in the game. When he'd try I'd quit, give him a break, trying to tell him that, Yes, that was the right thing to do. Also tried driving him (poor) and the squeeze game which, as we haven't done that in years, he didn't do too badly.

Took him out of the paddock afterwards for a graze, a graze that I invited (hand gesture) him to do and also a graze that I would put a stop to. Just working on that communication a bit.

Noticed again tonight that Balthazar was sweating when I got him out of the stall. His sweating increased while I groomed him. It's going to take a while before we lose that tension stemming from all those months of c/t. Poor guy doesn't really know what to expect from me. I'm all over the shop. Amazing that he does as well as he does. Have found that his ear pinning and biting at his chest lessens if I am very soft while grooming that area. Also that he is less annoyed with me brushing his face if I use long slow strokes. Surprising and rather sad that he has had to put up with annoying habits of mine because I was too dense to alter the way of grooming him.

Peter has invited us up to Long Grass and the Long Grass playpen for a session of the seven games. Not sure when yet. Plan to pack the saddle, bitless bridle and booties and get on him up there. He'll be away from his buddies and after an hour or so of mental exercise he won't be in a mood to play up. Seeing as he's favouring that offside front the riding will be minimal. But I think it's a good idea to hit him with everything (tacking up, booties and me on his back) while he's away from home. Then we can continue here (depending upon soundness). Have permission to ride on neighbour's property so can start slowly and build up fitness, mental, emotional and physical.

On Saturday when I put the feed in for Balthazar he decided he'd do the old pin the ears and make faces at me trick. Usually I ignore him but that day I stepped in and drove him from his food. It was a very interesting experience because although he did back away he refused to look at me. Resolved not to invite him to eat until he looked at me with both eyes. Balthazar got bolder and bolder, coming up on either side of me in an attempt to get to the bin and refusing to back up when asked. I was carrying Pagan's rug at the time (Pagan has The Itch and needs to be rugged at night at least until the sand flies die off) and had to shake it at him to make him retreat. Finally, afte some minutes, Balthazar looked at me. A long considering look to my mind. I said good boy, invited him to eat (with hand gesture) and left him to it.

Haven't worked with him since (today is Monday) except for hello in the morning. He hasn't made to nip since something he does after initial smell greeting. When he does that I make him move his feet and then leave him alone for a moment. When I greet him again he's all right but there has to be that first pushy bit on his part. Peter sent me a Parelli text about nipping and how horses are playing at the same time as they are checking out or reinforcing their place in the herd hierarchy. The hello nip attempt falls into that category. The nipping and ear pinning when his chest is groomed or touched does not. I'm surprised that Parelli doesn't cover that. Studley, a horse I used to groom at Indiantown, was a frequent and sneaky nipper. And I loved him. He was actually a kind horse, cheeky but kind although if I wasn't careful he wouldn't pull back if he did manage to cnnect. Would've loved to have had him. He wasn't a successful racehorse. Anyway, he's long dead now.

Yesterday Richard fed them (hay) and as it was already so late (and so cold) I chickened out and came inside.