Zippy's turn

Jazz has had the day off. He didn't need it but I was too lazy to get out of bed! I rode Zip - and this time I got a headcollar on him easily in the field. He also agreed to leave Jazz, who wasn't interested in coming in with him, although he did saunter up ten minutes later. It shows how happy he is to be with me and to work, because it is only a couple of months since he used to scream his head off if he was separated.

After how he was when I got on the day before yesterday, I decided not to risk mounting in the open and went inside the barn again. We do a little dance every time I ride. I pick up the step that I use to get on from, pick up the reins, and stand at his shoulder, following every time he moves away. Eventually he stands still and I put down the step. Up until today, he then moves again and I pick the step back up and we do the whole dance over again until he stands still again. He is now getting much better about standing still for me to get on, but he did another "skip" as we moved off. This is now completely normal for him and I think he may even be a tiny bit "cold backed". After one circuit of the barn he was calm so I got off and took him outdoors. This time he was fine to mount and he did some absolutely lovely walk and trot and a great bit of leg yield. His head carriage is extraordinary for a 3 year old.

I've bought him a new bridle all of his ownsome off eBay. It's a Samuel Sharp comfort bridle and the quality is absolutely brilliant for £35 including rubber covered reins. But it was promised with a plain browband and it's come with a diamante one! I can't possibly ride my horses around wearing bling, I don't even wear my wedding ring!!!!!

He's a really interesting horse. Another one which is nothing like I have owned before. I've owned quiet TB/ID crosses and totally dippy full TB ex-racers. But Zippy is very sharp and yet quiet and gentle all at the same time. If you touch him with a whip while riding you get an instant reaction that feels as if it is going into an explosion, which a fraction of a second later has resulted only in an increase in speed in the pace which is just what you wanted. He's also like that about things on the floor too - very quick to react, often appearing to over-react and then just as quickly understanding and doing what you ask of him. It's an odd mixture and it takes some getting used to, so that I can learn not to over-react myself to his apparent over-reaction.

I don't know if this is a warmblood thing, or a result of him being a full KWPN which has obviously taken very much to the TB model. I like it though.

C