A few days ago took Balthazar up around the paddocks.  When we returned and I removed his boots I decided I'd had enough.  Next time the farrier comes I'm getting him shod.  Tried to do the natural thing and I am certain it is better for him rather than having rigid plates of steel nailed to his feet but the boots are a pain in the proverbial.  I've purchased 9 boots in all, sold 4 and still have 5.  And they don't really do the job.  The hind ones slipped around (again).  One of them is starting to tear through the fabric (have already superglued the inside of another boot) and I'm sick of it.  I want to hop on my horse and go for a ride without having to stop and check that the boots haven't slipped 90  or 180 degrees.  Nor do I want to come home and have to clean them with the power nozzle to remove seeds and grasses.  And last but not least, Balthazar doesn't like them much either. 

Today while I was grooming him and tacking up Balthazar started the same old routine of ear pinning (although he isn't nearly as ferocious as before and no longer tries to nip me so we've made alot of progress).  Thought I'd change things up by asking for some sideways and back in between putting the saddle on and tightening the girth.  I had a whole new horse!  I think sometimes he does things because he's always done things not because he's bothered by something. 

As that was so successful decided to mount up in the yard and ride out to the arena (no boots needed!) rather than lead him out and mount there. 

All we worked on today was staying calm and lots and lots and lots of transitions.  For 25 minutes.  He was quite distracted at the beginning because his buddies were 'over there!' and he was 'over here!' and how could he possibly concentrate?  Nevertheless we just kept going.  Balthazar being Balthazar he wasn't naughty he just wasn't *there*.  By the end he was better.  He was listening more and a bit looser in his body.  We cantered and trotted and walked and halted and backed.  Sometimes he was in Pretty Pony mode (and we'd change gait).  Sometimes he was slllloooooowwww (and we'd change gait).  Sometimes he was tense (and we'd change gait). 

When I dismounted he was okay but noticed that he was quietly grinding his teeth on the way back to the yards.  No bit in his mouth but he still had to show how tense he was.  How can I gain his confidence?  Routine shuts him down, lack of routine makes him nervous.   All in all, I was pleased.  It was good to have him respond so quickly and quietly to requests.  He was more supple in his his body on a circle after I'd asked him to actually bend (and then let him alone.  I am MUCH more mindful about asking and then releasing rather than niggling, in other words having one audible request rather than a wall of white noise).  So it's worth doing again. 

I am, however, looking forward to getting him shod and riding out on a whim rather than with a big pre-production production.