Same as last time.  Weather coming so out first thing this morning.  No games, just get on and go. I forget I can do this and sabotage my love of riding by feeling guilty if I don't 'Parelli' first.    Balthazar is a horse you can just get on and go.  One of the most telling lessons I've learned working with horses is bum time in saddle equals a better behaved horse.  Riding has to become part of their routine.  Not a big deal.  Don't make it a battle, just go out and do some stuff.
     Today I did some half passes on the road (from one clump of edible grass to another), unexpected halts, a couple of trot departs from the halt and a canter depart from the walk.  Just to keep things interesting.  Was going to take him up Wayne's Hill but found prospective buyers had driven as far as they could in their 4 WD and had parked on the same narrow path I was going to explore.  Took a path to the right which didn't go far (but now I know) then returned to the road and went to the end.  He didn't yell on the way home and wasn't even very excited about turning for home so count the ride as an enjoyable success.

Took him up the road.  No 7 game warmup, just saddled and went (if it was only that quick, there's grooming, spraying flies, picking and stiff bristling out hoofs for wearing of easy boots).   Started with a bang as Dakota galloped over, double barrelled, farted and took off.  Balthazar understandably had a little leap as well but didn't carry on.  He really is a level headed boy. He was good but again whinnying his separation anxiety.  Even broke stride a few times.  Not a big deal.  Only needs more time out and about.  It's been too sporadic.  But a beautiful crystal clear day to ride.  The creek is running so there are 3 minor creek crossings for Balthazar's entertainment.  He's fine, sniffs and walks through.  Was nice just to amble down the road.  Did some trotting too, not a lot.  He feels the rocks even through the boots.  Besides, I want to get him fit not wear him out.  It should be a pleasure for him too, not a feat of endurance.

Motivated and informed by immersion in Parelli 'Resources', Balthazar and I had a very interesting session today.  Realized I've been  unclear in what I'm asking.  Our full pass down the fenceline was magic.  He knew how to do it all along but why should he exert himself when my energy is so low and wimpy?  He did a brilliant job.  I was walking toward him at a normal walking pace, not asking for one leg shift and then stopping as a reward.  His job was to get out of my way as I came toward him with a big bubble of energy around me.  And he did.  We were less successful getting him to full pass over a 20L container.  He wanted to walk forward and then sneak his hind legs through but not over.  Two things made a difference to success.  The first was putting the drum beneath him to show him it was okay for it to be there.  He wasn't scared of it but just didn't want it beneath him I guess.  Perhaps he didn't trust himself to be able to move over it without getting tangled up in it or something.  The second thing was being very clear that he wasn't to move forward.  The energy was bleeding out forward and he was coming nearly on top of me to avoid side passing over the drum. 
      It's something we'll have to keep working on.  Also did a bit of work on the 22' line.  Very humid and hot today.  Blinded by sweat in my eyes.  Balthazar was soaked - and neither of us were working that hard although suppose his stress level contributed.  Despite the heat I did ask him to trot around me and change directions when asked, or jump the arena logs or, more importantly, to keep going when I walked down the middle of the arena.  He tended to stop so had to be reminded to keep going. 
     Also worked on him mirroring me; walking forward when I did, halting when I did, walking backward when I did.  Not too bad but needs improvement. 
     Bit of a shock for both of us today.  Shocked him because I've been so low key that I suspect I've been unclear.  I was trying to train him as though we were still clicker training but using a cessation of asking as the reward.  It wasn't getting us anywhere and confused the situation.  Shock for me because he did so well!

Balthazar shone today.  He had every reason to misbehave yet he held it together.  Decided to take him out for a ride rather than have yet another session in the arena.  It was overcast and the wind was blowing hard enough to make tree tops flip back and forth like models in a shampoo commercial.   Thought it pretty risky but decided to go ahead.  I get sick of arena work.  So off we went.  At least the wind blew the buffalo fly elsewhere.  It doesn't take long for the repellant to wear off.  Did a very fast run through of a few of the 7 games, taking no more than 2 minutes tops.  He was fine.  Besides I'd already made up my mind so even if he'd started doing donuts, laying rubber from his easy boots,  we would've gone.
   He was a bit erratic at first.  Didn't want to leave so tended to weave rather than walk a straight line.  Went to Wayne's and decided to go through into the tank paddock.  It was very overgrown.  I knew it was strewn with boulders so we picked our way carefully to the fence line.  From there saw the track we were supposed to take.  Went back to the road and in through the other paddock.  Climbed halfway up the hill.   He isn't fit and we'd already been out for half an hour.  Turned for home.  Unlike our trip out he travelled like an arrow - dead straight - with a very forward walk.  Then he started whinnying, poor baby.  Separation anxiety big time - yet he never broke stride.  Very proud.  Dismounted half a kilometre from home and walked/grazed the rest of the way.  Did the trick.  He was calm and happy to be with me rather than home with his buddies. 

Trying again.  Had another brief but intense hot spell and just couldn't rouse myself to ride.  Went as a fence sitter to a Parelli clinic (only one day) at Cambooya.  Wanted to be inspired, to learn something.
  Sprayed him liberally with repellant and started some groundwork.  Five minutes into it and we had to trot back to the tackroom for more repellant.  The flies are Fierce!  We did a pretty good run through, especially pleased with his yielding on a circle.  His hindquarters have to yield faster and further than his forequarters if he's going to turn around me like an hour hand on a clock.  Not a bad job.  Also worked on the weave.  That definitely needs a tune up.  He doesn't really understand it yet - I'm working too hard to get him to weave.  Want to suggest rather than tell.
     Took the 22' line out but hadn't thought things through as to what we'd do with it so just did some circles with him.  It was enough that he stayed more or less at the end of the line rather than cutting in.
     Than I rode him.  Not for long.  He's a little tenderfooted from the trim yesterday so only a small amount of trotting.  Mostly walking, getting him to leg yield back to the wall when he cuts in.  Trying to stay out of his way so that he takes responsibility..   Tomorrow hope to put his booties on and go for a bit of a trail ride, just to get us both out and about.  Lots and lots of pick about so he should enjoy it too.  Want to get us both riding fit.  Now that we have the booties sorted out we can start to build fitness.  Want to go up Wayne's mountain before the place is sold and unavailable.

Rode for the first time in 3 months today.  Only about 20 minutes as he has to get used to the saddle on his back  (know they don't get callouses per se but believe they do have to build up some kind of protection).  At any rate, did a truncated 7 games.  We're in a race with the flies - to see if we can get anything done before the repellant wears off and they attack in earnest.  As it was he was distracted with them but we presevered.

He was a little antsy as he was removed from his buddies but pretty obedient all the same.  He did suck back, as he does, when I overfaced him with requests.  He is so sensitive that almost any request save for moving briskly forward (at the walk, trot or canter) around the arena, is a reason for him to adopt his 'pretty pony pose' and suck back inside himself.  We'll just have to keep plugging away at it.  Do try and allow him to 'let down' after we've done something that requires a bit of mental effort so that the ride, our lengthy 20 minute ride, is not too stressful for him. 

Have 5 cones set up so did the weave using exaggerated body movement (he's not focussed on me enough yet, still experiencing separation anxiety) and then with the reins.  Also figure 8 around two cones - he really sucked back with that but we got an excellent canter depart (the only one we did as it's still too slick and boggy in the arena) because the figure 8 had got him collected and underneath himself.  Lovely feeling.

Took him out for a pick and a good bush afterwards and then threw a rug on him to give him some relief from the flies. 

Lovely to be riding again. 

Back again - almost

It's been two months since my last confession - at least that's what it feels like.  We've had so much rain that despite Balthazar being sound we've been unable to do anything in the muck and mess.  Then yesterday thought it's dry enough to have a play and see where we're at.  Great idea but poor in its execution.  Through no fault of Balthazar's or mine for that matter.  The fault lay with the zillion flies.  Since the floods the flies have decided to breed all at once, hatch all at once, descend on the horses all at once - and there's no let up in sight.  Sprayed him liberally with fly repellant which worked just long enough to give him a quick groom (and a long mane de-tangling) but by the time we squelched out to the arena the repellent stopped repelling.

Balthazar was actually quite good.  I am continually amazed that time off seems to enhance their learning.  Between biting at the flies he porcupined and drove and yo-yo'ed and half passed and circled and yielded front and back, changed direction and was a thoroughly good boy.  But it was just cruel to ask him to continue. 

We don't use poisons in the house or on the land so I loathe spraying (and having Balthazar and I inhaling) poisons to keep the flies at bay.  All the horses wear fly veils and between their tails and their muzzles (or standing head to tail) they can take care of themselves.  Once a halter is introduced, however, it inhibits their ability to keep themselves comfortable. 

At least it's March and autumn approaches.  The fly plague has to start abating soon.  This morning it was 15 degrees.  The flies thought it too cold to go to work so if I want to do anything I will have to be extremely organized, get the birds fed, us coffee'd and fed and be on Balthazar's back before the day warms.  The problem with that is timing.  The horses are locked in the yards overnight.    Because there is so much food around they, especially Dakota, are at risk of  grass founder.  Selfish as a description, would hardly cover it if I asked Balthazar to go to work without a proper breakfast. 

So we'll just play it by ear.  At least he's sound again and willing to participate.  Played the 'hide the carrot' game with him.  That too was much more of a success.  He knew instantly what we were about and enthusiastically played until it started to rain and he wussed out and hid in a stall. 

What else is there to say?