I may be young, but I have an opinion!

Young Zipperoo is getting an opinion! He's also getting a bit of a stiff neck if he works in an outline for too long (too long being ten minutes at the moment), and he makes it pretty clear when he's had enough, by refusing to go forward and then hopping up and down on the spot. I find it funny right now, but I mustn't let it escalate or I could be in trouble - he really is very tall and very whippy. I am really enjoying looking forward to bringing him on now, and beginning to plan his lessons for the winter.

I rode Jazz too, and the new regime of a steady hand and no leg is working its magic still. He is getting more and more submissive in difficult situations, like today when there was a new purple skip in the barn with us (I put it there deliberately). When I say submissive, I mean that he is throwing his head about and yanking at the contact less and less. He is still forward, bouncing, and full of vitatility.

I rode indoors this morning because everyone has been a bit unsettled the last day or two. I think they all know that George is going. They were standing at the gate to the field last night instead of going into the barn, and when I threw a few scraps of dirt at their heads to get them to turn and go into the barn, the three of them simply acted as one and pushed the gate right off its hinges! SH fixed that this morning for me, but the noise of him welding the broken bits back together set everyone off again, so I went for indoors for safety. I really wanted to hack Jazz but it seemed pointless to go out on a day when I knew he was already rattled.

Jazz is living full time inside at the moment because of his reaction to the grass. I decided from today, until I get back from holiday on Friday, that both he and Zippy should stay in the barn full time. George can go out on his own during the day, which will make him easy to catch and very glad to see his new people when they come up next week. He can go in with them overnight.

The pair of them seem quite happy in the barn. They can roll (they did, lots!!), trot around, sleep, whatever. George didn't seem to mind being out alone, either. He isn't calling, fence walking or fretting by the look of it. It seems like the safest thing all round for a week or so while the house-sitter has the responsibility of them.

C