A pile-driving red and blue barber's pole.  That's what we were today attempting to ride figure 8s.  Yes, he was brilliant at turning when we were turning *toward* his buddies in a neighbouring paddock.  Much less so turning away however, somewhat like trying to turn an 18 wheeler with a dose of good intentions and little else.  I stepped in that inner stirrup as if my life depended upon it and still he drifted wide and away.  Or, conversely, going toward his friends, he'd step in so tight as to almost step on the drum.  Oh well.  We kept practicing interspersed with trot breaks around the arena.  Stopped when he did a pretty nice imitation of a horse that could be ridden bridleless.  Of course he was only humouring me and it took several twisting asanas during yoga work later in the morning to unkink what had been kunked. 

Hot even at 8am so rode for only 20 minutes.  Quite a bit of cantering today.  It's becoming 'Old Hat'.  We did have a bit of a fight.  He wasn't listening to my left leg (he's hollow left, stiff right) and if not corrected would 'fall' into the arena away from the rail, cut corners badly and fall into circles.   I kicked and he still didn't listen so I slapped the reins against his neck.  That woke him up.  The next time he tuned me out I picked up the left rein (I've been neck reining) and turned his head.  He had a bit of a hissy; head tossing, prancing, losing all the forward feeling that we've been getting (an unlooked for but brilliant side effect of riding the rail).  But I insisted.  As soon as he gave I let go and praised like mad.  It was a bit of a back and forth sort of ride.  At times (after I got up him) he was sensitive and responsive.  At other times I had to insist.  But we finished on a very good note.  Because of the tuning up, I rode a circle to the left in which he didn't fall in, was bent through the body and held the line all without reins, only my body.  This made me think too.  I know from the yoga that I am very crooked, that the strength in my body is uneven and that even after 3 years of yoga practice I am still mismatched.  What feels even to me might feel very different to Balthazar so that when I think I am asking with my body for him to bend around a corner I am actually hindering rather than helping.  I don't know how to deal with this except to do what I'm doing; more yoga and mindfulness.  I am trying to slow everything down (figuratively speaking) so that I don't nag with my aids, that I am still when I can be still and that I listen to his side of the conversation.  It's a bit of a battle.  Old habits die hard.  Still, it was a good day.  We accomplished a bit and I'm very pleased with some of our corners, the cantering, and especially that last round circle.

The oddest thing happened yesterday.  While Balthazar was eating I turned on the tap to the water trough.  I was daydreaming sitting on the edge watching the water pour in (actually I was studying the stream from the hose, wondering how I could draw it).  Anyway, I was hidden from his sight for a few minutes by the green tank.  When I turned the tap off and walked to the gate, he was there.  That it was strange he was there didn't occur to me until I started to put his feed bin away.  He hadn't finished.  Now unless there's a circus in the front paddock or strange horses are stampeding through the yards, Balthazar doesn't leave his food.  After years of Drifter's colicks I assumed the worse.  But I was wrong.  He wasn't sick.  He was curious.  He'd come to the gate to try and see where I was, what I was doing.  While I was hovering near the feed bin wondering what was wrong with him, Balthazar calmly returned and resumed eating.  
     Today's riding was hard.  He wasn't bad or anything but I really worked on myself  and that's the hardest lesson of all.  I know that I *talk* too much with my aids so this arena riding is good training for me to learn to say one thing at a time.  What usually happens is that I'm asking with my seat, weight, legs and reins and that I'm micromanaging using all the aforementioned.  So today I was very particular about asking with my legs and getting a response.  He's learned to plug his ears, figuratively speaking, so I asked softly with my leg and if I didn't get a response, I asked with more pressure.  If I still didn't get a response I stopped him and asked with as much pressure as it took (and at the start of the ride, it was a kick or several).  But it was good because he was re-sensitized to the leg so that a gentle bump sufficed.
   Another thing I have to work on is my weight.  On his stiff right side, going to the right, I'm leaning to the left in a vain effort to get him back underneath me.  This is wrong and doesn't work.  I need to maintain a neutral position (weight wise) and get him to step underneath himself by answering my leg.  Every corner we took today in the arena was a chance to practice that.  And boy was it hard.  Good but hard.  We did quite a lot of circles and half circles (change of direction).  Much more trotting today.  Cantering too.  I got a cavort (can one just have a cavort, as a noun or must it be cavorting an adjective?).  Anyway, when I asked for our first canter he leapt into the air - cavorting.  It was the wrong lead but as I said before we can get particular about that later.  Right now all I want is a calm canter which doesn't deteriorate into a trot or inflate into a gallop.  He also needs to be able to turn smoothly (neck rein) at the canter.  We're getting there.  
  

20 minutes of the same thing we've been working on; staying in the gait (that's not a problem, maintaining the speed of the gait is the next thing to work on) and staying on the rail.  We've upped the ante a little as today I asked for half circles to change direction (neck rein).  We also did 20M circles - not a lot, just looking for a circular circle and a happy compliance.  Balthazar tends to toss his head when turning away from the direction of the paddock where his buddies are.  In fact, we quit today when I got a very smooth, accurate, non head tossing/tail swishing circle away from them.  He does try, dear boy.  We also did a little cantering but I quit early because the wind was coming up and although he wasn't spooking why complicate things?  We've had a change come through so it's cool, dry and windy.  The three of them were bucking and farting this morning when I turned them out.  It's just that kind of weather.  At any rate, 20 minutes was enough.  The ground work, 10 minutes of it, was fine.  He's improving all the time.  We're getting a much more responsive full pass along the fence and yielding on a circle around me (like he's the hour hand and I'm the center of the clock).

Good, no excellent, day.  I learned something today.  That's more important than Balthazar learning something.  It was so hot even at 8am that I kept the groundwork very short and basic.  He did fine.  Rode for 25 minutes.  Along the arena rail again with some neck reining circles over 1/3 or half the arena.  Keeping it very simple and straightforward.  And that's what I learned.  I've been so anal about details without having the basics down at all and the basics at the moment are to do with keeping him relaxed and forward. That's all.  Relaxed and forward.  After that it's answering to the neck rein.  Being accurate will come later.  He tosses his head even as he makes the circle.  It will improve as it becomes old hat.  We did some cantering too which was great.  Since quitting cirgarettes my wind has improved so that helps too.  Cantering used to wipe me, it's such a physically engaging gait for the rider.  Anyway, we did some cantering, it was not a big exciting event.  He didn't leap, cavort, buck or bolt so we're ahead of the game.  Happy day.

Tried something completely different yesterday.  Ground work fine.  Consistently more responsive.  When I think back to how we were when we started groundwork and how we are now the progress is obvious.  Much room for improvement of course but it's good.  As for the riding, decided to ride one handed on a loose rein around the arena.  His job to stay on course and at the speed requested.  My job to leave him alone unless he needed bringing back on course or a reminder to maintain gait.  Clearly illustrated something.  If I left him alone he trotted along quite happily.  As soon as I touched the reins to bring him back to the arena boundary or to keep him from cutting a corner, down would go the head, nose pointing to the chest.  I could feel him mentally leave me as he went to that safe place of his where he outwardly complies with a request and inwardly shuts down.  So we played with walking and trotting around the arena - no cantering yet.  Asked him to halt with my seat from a big trot.  Really sat down on him and by gum, we had a perfectly square halt.  Hopped off with lots of praise.  But the best part was yet to come.  Took him out for pick.  I can loop the lead rope over his withers while he eats so he has a bit of freedom.  When it was time to quit I walked down the road toward the driveway.  Called him.  He looked up but didn't come.   I walked a bit further and called again.  He'd been watching me while grazing, both ears pricked.  When I called his head snapped up and on he came at the gallop.  The gallop turned into a trot but he did trot all the way to me.  Gave him a big hug.  What a lovely feeling.  I know if I called him while he felt safe in his own paddock he wouldn't have left the other horses to come.  Nevertheless I glowed the rest of the day.

Much better today.  10 minutes ground work.  Balthazar, if allowed, tends to dribble around comply with a request when he gets around to it.  I insisted that he comply immediately.  I don't care if he's hesitant and slow on new stuff but on things he knows, he now needs to get to it and do it.  He's always been a bit reluctant in the driving game.  Can almost see him saying, yeah, yeah, all RIGHT already.  Granted he'd improved alot being driven from zone 1 but he was still Mr. Molasses in zone 3.  Today I hunted zone 3.  He moved his little red butt and 40 minutes later when I asked him to move it when maneuvering through a gate, he retained the energy and MOVED.  As for the riding.  He wasn't scary to ride today.  He was still tense, robotic (but pretty!) in his trot (was he ridden in draw reins at one time?  He has always been behind the bit, overbent and behind the leg since I've had him.  On the trail he's fine but in the arena he 'hides').  At any rate, I didn't worry about it.  My main goal today was to try and relax him (a squeaking sheath is not a sign of relaxation!) and as that wasn't happening, to do lots of transitions with lots of breaks either at the halt or a loose rein walk.  Mostly I don't have a connection through the reins with the bridle.  To keep my body even I hold the reins in each hand rather than one but they are loose and floppy unless I need to make a connection.  For instance, asking for a halt with just my body, if he doesn't halt I pick p the reins and ask.  Ditto if I've asked hm to turn and he ignores me, I ask through the reins.  My goal is to be able to ride without reins.  He is quite sensitive and when he's attentive and calm he does very well.  Took him out for pick afterwards and he was quite happy to wander across the road and graze.  So it was a much happier day for both of us.  Played a brief game of Carrot Hunt in the yards.  Balthazar knew exactly what was up and found them quickly.  Not playing for a week or so has helped him play better.  He looks for direction more which is great.

Awful ride.  10 or 15 minutes groundwork and he seemed fine.  But things have changed.  Haven't worked with him for a week.  Have hardly spent any time with him  either, just the bare minimum of feeding up, checking for ticks, having a quick cuddle (for my benefit not his!).  Add to that  the horses are in a new paddock and his attention was everywhere but with me.  Tried the many transitions and could feel him losing it.  Back coming up, head tossing, starting to go sideways or at the halt, backwards without being asked, pounding around in the robotic but *pretty* trot with a squeaking sheath and absolutely no give in the back, no connection to me.  It's quite scary really as although he's going forward and going forward at a good clip he is behind my leg.  All his energy is not at my disposal but coiled up inside him ready to burst forth at the first opportunity.  Made the best of it by dropping the reins and trying to ride from my seat, doing lots of walk transitions to keep things calm, rewarding a halt from my seat with a break.  Finished on an okay but not stellar note.  I'm not disheartened.  Tomorrow will be better.  Once we get back in the routine it'll be fine and he'll get over his neediness for the other horses (even taking him out for pick, rather than grazing and moving away from the property he was slowly but inexorably working his way back).  Gave it up to experience.  Tomorrow is another day.  Nothing Bad happened, it just wasn't good.

20 minutes online, 20 minutes riding, 20 minutes grazing.  I think that's a good mixture.  Have noticed Balthazar is showing far less of his Crabby Face when he's being groomed and tacked up.  Keep shoving carrot pieces his way while I'm placing the saddle pad or tightening the girth (one hole at a time from each side with a break between each tightening.  Don't know how to make it any less intrusive).  It seems he almost forgets he's supposed to pin his ears and then remembers and tries to look peevish at the same time as he's looking for that carrot.  I predict in another month his expression will be exclusively one of pleasant anticipation.  Went from the 12' line to the 22'.  Not so great.  On the circle he still wants to spiral in, so much so I'm afraid he's going to tread on the rope.  Had to make BIG GESTURES to get him out.  He did comply so assume it's only a matter of practice and persistence (egad, I'm starting to sound like PP!).  He was again quite brilliant on the sideways.  His porcupine and driving aren't even on the near and off sides.  Notice the same when riding.  Trying the TOF.  His inability to do this smoothly is entirely my fault.  I never used to see the value in it so didn't do it.  We always did TOHQ which is what he wants to offer (now interspersed with his new skill, full pass) when he feels my leg.  I've had to put my leg Far back on his barrel and go through the four phases to get a proper response.  We are improving but it just goes to show how training progresses, what he offers illustrates what's going on in his head and also what I need to do to make my requests crystal clear.  He's quite brilliant on his ridden transitions.  We did the spiral in an out from the drums again yesterday.  Not nearly as nice as the previous and first attempt.  Why is that?  Did I ask differently?  Did I expect too much?  Too little?  I think sometimes I make too much Noise with my body/my aids so that he can't hear what I'm trying to say.  I'm trying to control his flow of energy, hold it all together so that he doesn't fall in or out yet without hanging on the reins.  Anyway, today is a day off so we both can 'soak' a bit of yesterday's work and meet again tomorrow.  I do know, and anywhere else this would sound completely sappy, I am totally in love with my funny little redhead.  Spending so much time with him in a positive way has made a relationship between us where before there was none.

Cantered again today, same lead.  He picked it up, cantered quietly, came back quietly.  Very happy.  On his difficult side, the right, we didn't.  Will try next time.  Just like the left lead, which I know now he will do without difficulty, he needs to get used to the idea.  Also, because it is his difficult side, the best thing is to ask but not make a big deal (unless he gets it!).  On line got the best full pass we've ever done.  Accidentally flicked him with the end of the carrot stick string.  A happy accident it seems for he full passed both directions like a professional.  Which brings up the obvious question.  Why, if he understands it so well and is capable of accomplishing it with such ease, has he not done so?  Am I too nice?  I reward the merest try.  Perhaps now is the time to be a bit more insistent, to not reward until he's tried a little harder for a little longer.  I've been happy with one full step.  We tried a new exercise at the end of our 25 minutes? under saddle.  There are two 20L drums in the arena.  I asked him to walk very tight around the drum then gradually spiral out until the circle was large enough to ask for trot.  He found it easy to the left and difficult to the right.  But with a little effort from both of us he held his line, didn't fall in or out of the circle and stopped square!  That was good enough for me.  We quit and I took him out on the road for pick.  I like spending time with him like that.  He grazes and I know he's happy tasting green after this long winter.  He  raised hs head and touched me with his nose  which I interpreted as just a friendly checking in.    Quite companionable.

Cantered yesterday.  Only a few strides then back to trot.  Asked once and he sped up but didn't change gait.  The second time he responded.  Need to do it enough so that it becomes, in the words of Tom Roberts, Old Hat.  Cantering 20m circles, doing lots of transitions will also help him to build muscle, become handier, fitter and stronger.  I love doing the transitions at the walk, trot, halt, back up.  Break them up with long trots or walks around the arena or having a walk outside the arena.  Our farrier trimmed his feet on Thursday.  He checked the fit of the Trail Easy Boots.  How could I be two sizes off?  Measured and remeasured before ordering but now have gone from size 5 and 6 to size 4 and 5 and really need to go down to size 3 (hind feet) and 4 (front).  That's two sizes out.   Anyway, need to get out and ride if I'm going to do it as it's supposed to be 35 today and probably 38 tomorrow!

Arena work yesterday.  Lots of transitions.  Balthazar sensitive enough to trot from walk or halt almost with a thought (along with slight lifting of the diaphragm and a *welling up* of energy from saddle to throat - describing badly but that's kind of how it feels).  Once he's attuned his downard transitions improve although not as quick as the upward.  Couple of times had to employ touch of reins rather than just stopping riding and tightening core - again lousy description but best I can do.  He comes up beneath me so much that he tosses his head on downward transitions and would leap into canter or over jump with just a thought.  However want his responses solid before cantering as he's been a little over exuberant at times and I don't bounce anymore.  Lots of trouble getting one step of turn on the forehand.  EIther he backs or walks forward, turns on the hindquarter or if he does TOF he takes 3 or 4 steps rather than one.  It's been a blessing really as I've had to slow way down and analyze what I'm doing, whisper with my aids and be VERY precise in how I ask.  Yesterday we did get one step either direction which was good despite many false incorrect starts.  Happy with that as we can build upon it later.  Lots and lots of praise.   To get the idea had to do a one rein stop so that he was stepping away from my leg.  Not how I wanted to do it because his head was bent right around rather than just tipped over but it did convey to him that yes, it is THIS we are asking for so that's okay.    Also asked for leg yielding to and from the arena wall on the long side.  Rather inelegant but okay.  Played Carrot Treasure Hunt afterwards.