Round one: Mummy 1, Jazz 0

There was a fair wind blowing but it wasnt raining today so guess where Jazz and I went? You clever bloggers, how did you know? Back to the bridge, correct!

We had two reins on and a metal curb chain on the pelham. We got almost to the really bad place without any very serious resistances. Then it started, about a 1/4 mile away from the bridge. He turned once and ran. I dropped the main reins, grabbed the curb and hauled/released/hauled/realeased as hard as I could. He was desperate to get away from me, tossing his head in the air, but he failed.

Breathing a sigh of relief, I buckled the main reins to the saddle D and rode on the curb alone. And then the battle of wills started. I wouldn't let him turn. He wouldn't go forwards. There was precious little going on in the way of action, but honestly, the air was crackling with the energy forces charging around us as we were each determined to have our own way.

He tried to turn. He backed up. I wouldn't allow any of it. I flicked him from time to time with the whip. Nothing regular because he screens it out. Nothing violent because he turns defiant and says "hit me all you like!". Finally, he took a step forward and I praised him.

Then the battle of wills started again. Just as I was beginning to doubt whether I could win, he walked forwards. All the way down the hill, round the bend and over the bridge. He moaned, he groaned, he jogged, but he didn't nap again. We walked backwards and forwards over it a couple of times, and then went home.

Feeling rather pleased with myself, I took Zippy into the barn with his bridle on to do a bit of separation training. He's much better than he used to be. I even got him to stand still while I leant over his back (no saddle on, so I didn't take my feet away from the step, I would just have slid off :-) He does turn on the forehand, turn on the haunches, backs up and stops nicely when being led. He is very sharp and very reactive. When I went to see him I was afraid he might be a bit quiet but he's anything but that.

On the up, I rode Tia too. I tried the Jeffries/Mylerlike bit on her and it worked really well. She was lazy to start with and then typically overreacted to being chivvied up a bit. But we got a balance in the end by doing lots of tiny circles to bring her hocks underneath her. We finished on one walk to canter (yes, she's getting it :-) on each rein and they are all out now in what is feeling very, very much like spring weather.

I'm off for lunch now, still feeling good about winning my battle with Jazz. It was so important, absolutely critical to our future together.

C.