Right day this time!

Radar's heel has popped! A big blister and a small amount of pus. He's hardly lame at all, I only noticed because his leg was filling again and I felt for it. I didn't even have to lance it, it had already split. What a trooper he is! We're going to have to watch him closely for hunting injuries if he's that much of a stoic. Even Tetley made more fuss about foot abcesses than Radar has about this one.

Jazz has been fabulous at Sonias. The half pass left was cured in a bigger arena. He just needs a full 60 metres to get right over to the track. He tried very hard, and clearly finds it harder in that direction.

Apart from that we did canter pirouettes, trot travers, medium trot (huge improvement), flying changes (on the aid), and collected canter. I asked Sonia if we will get tempi changes and she said "of course".

The flying change from right lead to left lead is perfect every time. The one from left lead to right lead is more difficult, which is interesting because it's the one he got first. I have to get him straighter before I ask, he is too bent to the counter canter. Sonia told me how to get him to move his backside to the right with my left leg, while NOT moving that leg backwards, but keeping it by the girth (and the right leg still behind the girth) to keep the counter canter (left) lead. Try that without tying yourself in knots!!!

We had such a great lesson, he is progressing faster than anyone thought possible.

C.