The day off ended up being a week! I had, before we left, let the juniors into the bigger paddock, and they have ended up next door (lusher, greener grass), and since it has rained the way they get back into the paddock has water across it - so makes it that little bit less appealing to come home.
I was going to begin riding Dicko this week, but by Tuesday Phil was crook as a dog, and I had to leave home earlier, to get to the school and open up etc.
I did get the chance to move Jesse (thoroughbred yearling) to our river flat paddock, and he was a little worried about heading down the road by himself. While I was leading him, he continually wanted to turn around and head back to the paddock he just came from. I have just finished reading Mark Rashids Book - Horses Never Lie, in which he deals with a horse like this (while riding - the horse continually wants to come off the rail of the arena), his theory, in the book, is to let the horse do want it wants (turn around) and then just turn it back around and keep going. The theory is, that the horse will figure out he is using more energy, doing all these circles, and just carry on. So I did it with jesse, he wanted to turn around, so i let him, then I just turned him back around and continued. It worked. I only had to do it once, and he just walked the rest of the way - coincidence, or a sound theory? I don't suppose I will know until I try it a few more times - food for thought though, as this is alot less hassle than having an argument and trying to make the horse go forward.
To top off the week - I just found out that my book - Maximum Returns, Minimum Concerns - A Guide to Successful Property Investment is getting published, so I am very excited about that, it does mean that I will be busy after the release date (August 1), so my horses may have to take a backseat for that time. At least I know now - so I can plan for this.
Happy Horsing,
TJK
No comments:
Post a Comment