This is less of a real blog and more of a bit of photo fest, sorry that I don't seem to be able to get them to go in the right order, or in any order at all actually.
So, the challenge of this blog is to spot which phot matches which description!!
1) Here is Cardinal being a brave lad and really enjoying his loose jumping. We used a bit of loose work round the arena to see if it helped him settle and relax, having moved a bit. It did, and he really remembered the head lowering exercise from yesterday, so I was able to use that to help relax him during some of the training today - which involved plaastic bag (he was great and very brave) and also the longline around his girth and his quaters. I am happy that he may be ready to wear a roller and have a go at longlining tomorrow.
2 a and b) BBs reaction to the plastic bag in her girth area, initially, and after just 5 minutes of work. She was really very happy about the plastic bag on her back, shoulders, tummy etc, this explosive reaction was about the girth area only. Today I set her up for tack with longlining (naked, as it were) plastic bag in the girth area and then leading her round in walk over poles etc once she had the saddle on rather than put her out onto a circle. I thought we had it sussed, but once longlining in tack, she had a little spook and then had a pretty good buck, this time I had a jumping wing and a barrely to negotaite while handling the lines and the photos are amusing I look as though I'm taking part in It's a KnockOut. Overall though, definately  a good day for BB and a real step forward.


3a,b,c) Are Charlie. in one photo you can see how much he is enjoying his longlining, just third day and already loving obstacles (cones, wings, Lshaped poles, tarp,) and working very happily. Leaning over him today we found a little worry spot when I came up higher so worked at that until he relaxed about my height. Lovely to see him finish his session today following Alice over poles and about the arena with no line on at all.

4 a, b and c) are Cider, who has to get the gold star of the day. She took to longlining like a duck to water, didn't buck with the saddle at all today even though it was a little bit tickly, (you can see how short her strides are in one photo, and how much her shoulders have relaxed after some polework in another), she carried my weight leant over and moved happily in walk and so we continued working until sat astride, which she seemed most relaxed about so we ended the day there. Superstar Cider!


So a lovely day was had by all, except perhaps the cider making team who were so soaked in cider when they came in at lunch that i can only assume there was some sort of industrial accident or they were all swimming in the stuff rather than working!!