Natural Horsemanship with my Haflinger!

Beautiful day, so absolutely no excuse not to get back in the saddle!

Sadly it was all a bit depressing really

Walked out in hand on the roads for 15 mins, she was sound on her feet and happy to go

Got back, and checked her out on the ground; she realy, really doesnt want to go on a circle on the left rein, happy to maintain gait on the right, but just kept stopping on the left

It's so difficult, I can see that genuinely the arthritis is bothering her, and as much as the vets say to get her moving, she is clearly telling me she is uncomfortable

So didnt do much, and hopped on, just walking in a straight line on the left rein, she is not wanting to go, and it's not that obstinate not wanting to go, but she just doesnt feel right, turn her the other way and shes much happier

I had hoped that the supplements and injections would have made more difference, and I know i need to fitten her up, but so very hard when she doesnt want to use her body

Got to get the physio out again, but today it's all feeling like a real uphill climb again

Anthropomorphising? Maybe or maybe not

Interesting revelations...

finally had a break in the weather today, so took Giddy out for a short walk in hand down the road. We were only out for 10mins or so; played with mirroring each other's speed at walk, slow, really slow, medium and fast and mixed it up; she was pretty interested in this little game

Brought them up this evening from the field, and for the first time in literally weeks, she walked up nicely; it has been a pretty dicey experience of late sloshing around in deep mud through a fairly narrow gap with the two of them, Giddy has seemed to think it great fun to try and squash me between her and lightning, and there is very little room to try and block her

It has given me great cause for thought that such a small amount of interaction made such a HUGE difference. It shows that it's not just about respect - a dominant left brain mare she may be, but clearly she does like, and respond to even just a little bit of focused bonding and relationship building. More than anything, I think its about doing things with her, rather than to her, or making her go through the motions of the seven games; especially when i fall into the trap of being over demanding and critical, which with her being short, left brain and very dominant is literally the worst way to be

I have to admit that life has been so demanding of late, that i tend to fly around the stables, muck out, feed, chuck them in the field, put them back in stables, pick feet out etc, but my mind is generally elsewhere and churning over work

Today though, i was totally with her, in the moment, and focused on doing something together, and the change in the way she came up from the field was dramatic

It does inspire me a little, as have lost some motivation with my parelli journey of late with the arthritis seeming to make it all such a massive mountain, but the principles of the programme, and what i love about it have really hit home today

Note to self, must spend more time with my horse and throw work out the window for at least a short period every day, otherwise really whats the point!!!!

As per normal, life is far too hectic, and no updates for quite some time

The weather here in cornwall is literally dreadful it feels like it has been raining forever

The horses are in at the moment overnight, and out during the day, not ideal, but the land is so wet, and I have so little of it there is no other options. Mind you, it is so bad, that most days they are more than happy to come back inside

Although starting off with enthusiasm at the start of the year, we have done very little, Giddys respect level for me has wavered a fair bit, and once again, she is managing to push her weight around. It is just so hard when its sheet rain and blowing a gale, but i am trying to work on little things like haltering with more feel when i turn her out etc

It's hard to tell how the arthritic hock is really, but must get her back into work asap