More mix and match

More screwdriving. Now we have Jazz's seat with Jazz's longer flaps, set in the back position, on Zippy's panels, on Zippy. And Zippy's seat and Zippy's shorter flaps on Jazz's wider set panels, on Jazz. I think we're about there! The less comfortable seat is much more comfortable with the flaps set further back. The longer flaps are also better on Zippy, where they stick out less because his sides are flatter. The only thing that I might try is the bigger flaps on the smaller feeling seat. But for now, I've done enough screwdriving to last a week or two.

I only really rode to try the saddles, but it was also a lesson for each of them because I kept a trug half full of muck, and a cloth I rested the saddle on while I adjusted it, in the barn while I rode. Both of them used them as excuses to try and take a jolly good look, but both of them responded well to being told to concentrate.

On Zippy the technique is hold the contact firm and lift with the leg under the girth. He hasn't been allowed to learn that he has any option but to agree to do what I want, so he is still fairly easy, if resistant, to get to behave. Jazz of course is a different kettle of fish, who hasn't taken to being told what to do since before I ever got hold of him. The difference in him since the meds and Sonia gets more and more pronounced. I found it easy to get him to concentrate on me after a very short amount of time. I could tell he would have liked to be silly, which made it all the more pleasing (and exciting, actually!) that he agreed to submit to me and not do what he wanted. We really are getting somewhere now.

It's a foul day, bitterly cold and snowing. You would have thought after two years without a summer we were due a break, but no, winter is early. I'm going to sit in front of a fire fo the rest of the afternoon.

C