Baucher, Bridle Lameness and Evasion

For a very long time now I have ridden the hills and tracks and not done any arena work.  I became disenchanted with Parelli - not because of anything inherently wrong with it but because it's just not my 'thing' after a certain point.  I still use it in that when Balthazar tries to dominate by pinning his ears and trying to nip (he never really does, don't think he's got it in him to actually bite), I make him move his feet.  No reason to smack him or yell just make him move his feet.  Afterwards he's polite and tractable without being cowed or frightened. 

But this past week I've started working in the arena every other day or so.  Only 15 or 20 minutes at a time.  No big deal (which is a helpful mindset for me.  If it becomes a Big Deal then I've set myself up for stress and trying too hard which is Not the way to work with Balthazar). 

Was looking at his physique.  He's irridescent, beautifully shiny, well covered, but his musculature isn't as I'd like.  He's fit to run around the hills and trot and canter in a straight line but I'd like to see more topline development.  Also Balthazar is 17 and would benefit from some horse yoga (read classical dressage).

Have become interested in Baucher through Nuno Oliveira and the French method through Andre Jousseaume and his book Progressive Dressage which I happen to have.

One of the hurdles Balthazar and I have is his Pretty Pony outline.  When I rode him in a bit (French Snaffle), he'd prettily bend his neck and trot around the arena seemingly with perfect obedience.   Except of course, he was behind the bit, never on it.  He never 'gave' himself.  Therefore if something spooked him or he didn't want to do something I had an explosive out of control  horse beneath me.  He'd learned to hide behind a pretty outline.

Horses are smart like that.  When I offer him a drink before grooming and tacking up he's learned that if he stands with his mouth touching the water he can get another minute or so before he has to start work.  Same with the arched neck.  He looks lovely, he's doing what is asked so he's pretty much left alone. 

Today was the first time I felt confident (through my practice of yoga funnily enough) to begin to tackle the issue. 

Balthazar has always been bridle lame.  I have never ever been hard on his mouth and now that I ride (and have for a couple of years now) in a bitless bridle the excuse of pain in his mouth doesn't exist.  It's something he learned years ago that I've always just lived with.  I've been asking him to walk forward with gusto.  That's been an interesting exercise because he either breaks into a trot (with a bent neck) or refuses to walk faster.  When he finally does submit and walk freely forward I reward him and give him a break.  We'll keep on with that but what truly illustrated how sucked back he was was asking him to just take contact at the halt.

The lightest of contacts with my legs on.  We went backwards.  We went sideways.  We had head tossing, lots and lots of head tossing.  We had everything but the lightest of contacts. 

I called him out.  It was a real fight.  There was no pain, no kicking or yanking or anything but a relentless asking with my legs into a receiving hand.  Finally, FINALLY, he gave in.  Asked a couple of more times then quit for the day.

This is something we'll have to repeat again and again I'm sure.  Which is okay.  We have to start somewhere.  He has to learn that he must do as he's asked and that I won't hurt him if he does.  Quite exciting actually as we're, after all these years, finally facing the root problem straight on.