Stamp of approval

Sammie has been in a charming mood for the past couple of days and we had a great time long lining yesterday. I was walking him for a bit between trotting and I know that if I get within a certain distance of him he thinks it's Spanish Stamp time - don't ask me how this has happened, but it has. He caught me out yesterday but the great thing was that he stamped with both feet whilst still walking forward. He only did it on the right rein but I was so surprised that he'd remembered what we worked on well over two weeks ago now.

It still looks very funny but he seems to get some real pleasure out of it even though he does it with such force!

When we'd managed to stop going round in ever decreasing circles of stamping he did a much lighter canter on the right rein, so I reckon it must loosen things up a bit as well.

After that he long lined me back to the yard in the dark and he was foot perfect apart from the spooky bit where he thinks the electric in the fence might leap out and bite him on his fine backside.

Escape artist

Well the gorgeous Sammie broke out of his stable today. Not through the stable door but through his pretty sturdy chain and rubber door guard thing. He's developed a habit of poking his front legs out and pawing the walkway when dinner is on the way and tonight he must have really pushed his weight against it and he fell out giving himself one hell of a shock.

He quickly backed up into his box and lots of snorts followed while he stood there shaking his head in disbelief! It's only ever on there when people are about so no worries there, but what a vandal - I told him I'd be issuing him with a Criminal Damage fine. His face was a picture though! I managed to sort of hook the broken bits together quite firmly and then covered it with loads of gaffer tape while he stood there trying to touch it to get some treats.

I managed to long line Sammie yesterday and he was in such a better mood afterwards. He was fairly out of control at some points and very keen to get going and keep going, but he actually looked pretty happy to be prancing around. I'd noticed that he'd got more and more grumpy during the last week when I was too ill to do anything with him. There was such a marked change in him back in his box after exercise. I've never noticed that before or maybe it's just a new thing with Sammie.

When is enough, enough?

I keep thinking that it's enough for me when I get to a certain stage with riding Sammie, but then we discover something new. RI is such an inspiration and can spot things a mile off - a tweak here and a nudge there - things you really wouldn't think would make any difference at all, but they do. She kept telling me I had my 'handbrake' on in walk and I really didn't believe her at first. But she was right, I did. Sammie's walk is not the best horsy walk, but it can definitely get better as long as I get my act together.

Anyway, after throwing it all around my head, I've come to the conclusion that Sammie will tell me when enough is enough. He's been very good at that all along, so there's no reason he should be any different with this. I guess this still pretty basic stuff to a lot of people, but then I do doubt that a lot of people get that incredible feeling. The horse is trotting forwards, its head is in the accepted position and it's moving, but there's something so different when they are doing it in this way. It's like riding with a whisper and once Sammie starts listening to the whisper, he really gets it. I guess because he was ruined in his early life he just got used to bangs and shouts instead of whispers, so it really is a matter of him learning to recognise a much softer sound.

Trot Hot Shot

Sammie was amazing today! So light at the front and so lifted and all in sitting trot. Wow! What a great feeling - I literally just sat there, no legs, just closing and opening my seat. RI said he looked lovely and impressive, but I just can't get over that feeling. I just love sitting trot (never thought I'd say that) and Sammie is now better in sitting trot than rising. RI said that's because he's really working through properly which makes it easier for me to sit and he's comfortable like that.

Boy, I'll never cease to be amazed by how tiny, tiny seat changes can bring about a whole host of changes. As soon as I lifted slightly and brushed Sammie forwards with my legs off he goes.

I started off by saying I'd like to get a better walk. So we lifted, brushed forwards and if nothing happened I tapped my boot. RI reckons Sammie finds the walk rather boring now, but by the end we were getting some better strides.

I was just feeling great when RI threw in another challenge - stay sitting at trot but open him up down the long side of the school. Hmmm... well that ain't quite so easy to sit to just yet! You have to lean very slightly backwards, get your pelvis underneath you and release. Bless him, Sammie did it, but I need to get better at sitting to that extended pace!

Then we worked on paces within the canter - letting him out a bit down the long side and collecting up at the top ends. Not as easy as it sounds I can tell you! You really have to use your back and stomach muscles - mine were groaning by the end.

Before we did all of that we did lots of transitions - trot to halt, halt to walk, walk to halt, halt to trot. It really does lighten him up at the front which is why I think we got such a lovely sitting trot.

Once again RI said how well we're doing and that people can have lessons for years and not come on nearly as much. She also said he still looks absolutely fine on his feet as well. I know he is, but it's good to hear other people say that as well.

Nocturnal Moves

It was dark when I got to the yard today, a bit drizzly and pretty windy (and cold of course!) We've missed a lot of exercise sessions this week so I was determined to do something. Got him dressed up in his long lining gear and without thinking really, long lined him down to the school in the dark. I did question my decision as we left the yard, but he just strode on right down to the school. A few snorts here and there, but he looked almost keen to get into the school.

Once there, he worked like clockwork. Trotting and cantering, even down the scary end with the floodlights on. I walked him round a bit after we'd finished to loosen him off and then exited the school to turn off one of the floodlights (we leave one one so we can see our way back) I turned it off, turned Sammie to head back to the yard and he decided to take himself back in the school and go for another walk. He wasn't scared, I think he was actually quite happy to be doing a bit of work.

I eventually persuaded him that we really should be on our way and he long lined the whole way back until he heard an electric fence clicking. That was too much for him in the dark and after a mild panic attack, he stood firm and let me undo the long lines so I could lead him back. We did get in a bit of a tangle but he just did as I asked and was then happy to walk alongside me the rest of the way.

I rugged him up and left him watching TV while I got his supper ready. He just loves looking out there in the dark but the sound of supper soon saw him asking to get back to his stable pronto!

Tails of the Unexpected

Sammie went on the run (again) today, this time with me hanging on to his tail. I was untacking him outside the tack room after our ride and normally he just stands there with his bridle on (not very BHS I know) I was talking to H and just resting on his bottom and he decided it was about time to move off. The only thing I could grab was his tail. He didn't give two hoots that I was pulling on it. So we went round the back of the yard and up towards the top fields - yes, with me hanging off his tail. I didn't want to let go because I was worried that he might catch himself in the reins.

He actually took me to the very top, I couldn't believe it. Boy he's a powerful monkey once he gets going - talk about horsepower! He just walked but it took all my effort to keep up with him. Eventually I managed to turn him into some trees a bit, which slowed him down and I was just about able to grab a rein whilst still holding onto his tail.

What a sight we must have looked!! He really didn't seem to think it was at all odd to have me hanging off his back end. He certainly made no attempt to run away, just walked very purposefully taking in the sights as he went along. Who needs long lines?

That's a first for me, but afterwards I thought what a turnaround that he didn't try to buck or kick me out of the way. He was just so unconcerned about it. Of course everyone had a good natured laugh at my expense when I returned with Sammie in hand.

Prior to that new trick he was a very good boy in the school. Got down to work and gave me a couple of nice canters. My new clippers should be arriving tomorrow so I intend to get the rid of the rest of his fluffy tummy and chest by the end of the weekend. He really is getting so wet around there, it can't be good for him.

Independent spirit

I went to muck out Sammie this morning as usual. When YM serves breakfast I always pop him in the empty stable next door rather than leaving him standing at the gate. Only this time I forgot to put his lead rope across the door which is usually enough to deter him.

Breakfast was gobbled down and as I walked to the other end of the yard I just happened to look back to see Sammie poke his head out, look left, then right and make his 'stealthy' escape. "If I take it slow, I'm sure they won't notice. Easy does it." He did go very slowly, almost like he was creeping, so I thought I would catch him up and I wasn't too worried as I knew he'd head for the top fields.

However as he crept out of the barn he was very shocked to see the new display of one of the dog's practice agility jumps out the back and took off at smart trot, snorting away to himself. I then spent the next 10 minutes trying to persuade him that he really should come back and get out to his own field. Needless to say he made me late for work, but he did look rather good taking off at a pacey trot with his neck arched and tail held aloft, even though I wasn't impressed with the 'catch me if you can' game in the muddiest part of the field.

When we walked back to the barn, he didn't give the agility jumps a second glance. What a monkey!

I managed to long line today and the left rein canter is still improving. I'm trying to get a consistent 'bounce' into canter. It can still be a bit hit and miss but I reckon we're getting there.

A change is as good as a... Yikes!

I managed to ride Sammie in the school tonight. Not for long as I was pretty tired. We got to the point where we did a few decent canter transitions and then called it a day. Only about half an hour, but that was certainly enough for me! I think I'm a bit addicted to those canter transitions at the moment (who would have believed I'd ever say that?!) It's when we get to the point that all I have to do is sit back, squeeze the inside leg and up we go with hardly any pressure on the reins at all - in fact the reins go loose and because Sammie has gathered himself up if that makes sense. I think Sammie is still feeling a bit edgy at the moment. I reckon it's the routine change (he's a man of habit), change of field and the blasted roofers working on the farmhouse nearby. Even the YM said that the neds are still jumping about with every bang and clatter and it's been almost a week now. Maybe it's because the men are up so high up. Oh, and they've got a huge yellow skip outside that could just gobble all the horses up in one go.

Shave and a haircut, half clipped!

I still haven't finished Sammie's clipping yet, so he looks a bit like an oddly plucked thing at the moment. Hopefully I'll get it finished over the weekend. He really does need it with all that chest and belly hair! He's still out naked during the day (they've moved into the pond field now as their other two fields are having muck spread on them) and I intend to keep it that way for as long as possible. I rode yesterday and long lined today. The long lining was a bit of a whizzy session and it was canter, canter, canter on the left rein. Then it was supper, pyjamas and bed time - or more eating time in Sammie's case.

Gold star for Sammie!

Sammie got gold stars today for all his effort and his slight (very slight) weight loss. RI noticed straight away and asked what I'd been doing. Six out of 7 days exercise that's what's done it and those hacks with K and YM. I'm not sure I can keep it up, but it's good to know that it's made some difference!

Oh and the effort Sammie put in despite it being like a day in August weather-wise, and the fact that he is now wearing part of his thick winter coat. He listens so much now and if I do the slightest (very slightest) lean forwards he goes all flat or simply stops. If I get into an odd position to start off with a bit of a tense seat, he won't go. Lift my seat, sit back, ride uphill and off he'll go. Any bit of tension in the seat or legs and Sammie rightly interprets that means slower or stop. I've just got to get more control of my body!

The other thing I need to control is looking up, up, up! It makes such a heck of a difference but I'm finding it so hard to kick the looking down habit. Aaargh it drives me mad! But RI said if that's the only thing she's really got to tweak now then she's a happy woman. My legs can still wander and bobble a bit, but it's all just practice and discipline.

We worked on elevating the trot and canter today - purely working from the seat and legs and letting him practically carry himself on the front end. Sitting trot was a dream once he was really working from behind. RI wanted him slow, steady, 'up' and using his hocks. She knows he's quite a bouncy boy and said that at this pace he'll still be using himself correctly while I get more to grips with sitting - which is so much better but there's still room for improvement (as with everything). My legs just felt so relaxed, I didn't need to use them at all so they just hung there. Then we worked on a few strides of canter, back to sitting trot for a few strides and back up to canter. Towards the end I could really feel him 'sitting down' at the back end and it's such a wonderful, powerful feeling. It's like he's skipping into canter if that makes sense and it feels like he's really dancing - just wonderful when you get it!! I don't get it that often but at least I know what I'm aiming for now.

There was a pole on the floor of the school so we went over that a few times as well. A bit sticky, but we got there (with a bit of chocolate cornflake when he did it) RI reckons that the thing he's most afraid of is being jabbed in the mouth afterwards and that's why he always wants to rush off with his head in the air. It makes sense!

So my big orange boy was a superstar. He was very, very hot by the end so all tack was removed in the school (I'd taken his headcollar with me) and he had his treats from RI (he knows exactly where she keeps them now!) RI said it really showed that I'd been putting the work in and repeated again just how far I'd come. But I know I wouldn't be doing this if I didn't have Sammie's willingness. I still can't believe it when we just seem to pop up into canter - it really is all about feel which was always such a mystery to me.

I gave Sammie a good old shower before taking him back to the field. Sammie did his click and treat stretches and then went off in search of a good rolling patch. He went right over twice so his back must be fine - he was grunting with joy the whole time he was down. I went back to the yard later to get the monkeys in (we gave them extra time out as they'd been in for a couple of hours today for the lessons) and then after supper we had a quick practice with the clippers. I was prepared for Sammie to be a bit scared, but after a brief introduction (with clicks and treats) we were off and he was perfectly calm - so he didn't forget what he learned last year. Why on earth did people ever dope him (by injection) for that? It just took a bit of time and patience. I only did a bit but I should have it done by the end of the week. Still don't really like it, but I'd rather that than him getting a chill. He also gets so itchy with all the sweat and hair so it can't be pleasant for him at all

A spring in his step and another in his bottom...

Yep, that was Sammie today. He was full of beans and bounce, striding out as we left the yard for a hack on the Common, Once we hit the Common, it was boing, boing, boing all the way. I only had to make an attempt to pick up the reins and he thought we were off! We went out with M and K.

It was such good fun though and great to feel that Sammie was so full of life and being incredibly cheeky at times. We came across some of those awful scrambler bikes on the way back home. We could hear them at first but couldn't see them so we carried on. Then we saw them and they were heading towards us on a track just down a slight bank from the one we were on and there were five of the monkeys.

There was much puffing and snorting from M and Sammie, so we decided to halt and just let them see exactly what was going on. They both stood like rocks, heads high in the air straining to look. Then they came by, not slowing down at all. M and Sammie were in shock I think, their heads locked onto each one as it went by and they both sort of bobbed their heads every time a new one came into sight. They didn't move an inch, but their focus was totally on those bikes until they were well past. Then they stood there for a few seconds to make sure they'd gone, touched noses, let out some big snorts and decided it was safe to carry on their way.

Sammie came back in such a sweat so I'm afraid I'm going to have to resort to the clippers. I don't like it, but I can't keep leaving him cold and wet like that and his furry winter coat has really started to come through now. Hopefully he'll remember his experience last year when he was such a good boy.

We've got lessons tomorrow, so I hope Sammie hasn't used up all his energy today.

Sammie Says "No!"

I knew Sammie was in a bit of a funny mood this morning when I went to muck him out. Nothing satisfied him. He wasn't unhappy, just a bit 'up himself'. YM commented that he was being very demanding and she was right.

I got back to the yard after work and all the horses were in except Sammie. Mild panic set in -he's lame, he's injured - all the normal stuff. That was until K started to tell me what a monkey he'd been today. First of all he would not come in from the field for the dentist. They'd been out for a couple of hours but Sammie decided that just wasn't good enough. K got the other two orange ones in, but Sammie was having none of it. He'd come over and as K went to put the headcollar on he turned on his heel and shot off pulling his scariest face. After several attempts K gave up so YM went up there to find Sammie prancing around.

He did the same thing with her -'catch me if you can' but YM knows Sammie better than K and one growl and a 'big body' seemed to do it after he'd done a couple of turns to show her his backside before trotting off with his tail in the air. He had no problems with his teeth so after all three had been done they were put back out in the field again.

Then he did exactly the same thing when they went to get them in at the end of the day. He was really playing up this time though and trying to get his orange cohorts to join in, which they did for a while but then their tummies got the better of them. So YM decided to take the other two and leave Sammie to it.



She was back up there trying to get him in when I arrived. I walked to the gate and she was walking down the hill having a 'serious discussion' with Sammie and telling him what a naughty boy he was. Sammie was just strolling along with a very innocent "Who, me?" look on his face.



What a monkey! YM reckons he's feeling a little too well!

We did some long lining after that and he was a very good boy even though he was a little too keen to canter! Supper went down in a flash and I left him tucking into his hay. I said some time ago that I sensed his character seemed to be coming through more and more this year and I think I'm right. To be honest I quite like it when he's a bit naughty - it shows me that he feels he can misbehave a bit without receiving more than a growl as a reprimand.

End of the night shift

Sammie is just fine (touch wood) His canter on the long lines is still coming on a real treat - even getting a bit better on the right rein now that I understand where I was going wrong. And I can really feel it transferring through to the ridden work. He did some lovely canter in the school yesterday when I was riding - couple of strides of trot, up into canter for a few strides, back down into trot, up into canter. He was a bit of a spook demon because we were down the monster end of the school as K was practicing her dressage test for today, but he did try to keep himself together - apart from one or two emergency "Yikes!!" stops!

We've decided that today is the day that we turn them round to come in at night. I don't think they're finding it at all pleasant now judging by their eagerness to come in in the morning! So they came in early this morning to dry off a bit and have their breakfast and then we turned them straight back out again so they'll come in for their first night tonight after piratically 24 hours out in the field. When I got there I couldn't see Sammie from the tea station and felt a mild panic coming over me until I heard a gentle snore and realised he was having his morning nap. He looked so cute with his legs all tucked up underneath him. YM and K are always taking photos of him like this on their phones when I'm not there and sending them to me because they think he looks all lovely and cuddly.

Practice makes perfect

K had a practice long-lining session with Sammie today before trying it with her own horse. What a little star he was. He just did all the stuff while I directed K. She kept calling him a 'poppet' and dear old Sammie just kept going, left, right and changing the rein in walk and trot for her. It was good to give her a feel of how it should be first.

Obviously her young man felt very different and if you accidentally started to walk a bit faster he would break into trot. That took me a bit by surprise the first time he did it! I told K just to do loads of walking with him first, getting him to stretch out his neck as it's naturally very high set and he can get a bit tense. When I held the reins really lightly with virtually no contact he did start to stretch out just a bit, so the more she does it, the more he'll learn that's what he needs to do. What a willing little soul though and perfectly charming with all the curiosity and surprise of a youngster.

K was delighted as it gives her something else to do with him as she eventually wants to do some dressage with him but she doesn't want to bore and dull him with schoolwork all the time. So if she can mix up the school work with long lining and hacking then that will be a lot better for him.

I have to say that I felt so proud of Sammie in the practice session. When I was watching him going calmly about his business with a stranger, it was clear to see how far he has come.

My legs are good in canter

....well, on the left rein - but at long last!!

The right rein is still a work in progress, but I'm just so delighted that I finally seem to have cracked that brick wall. RI said the canter has improved so much and she could see that I'd been working on it. She also thought that cantering on the long lines fairly regularly had helped a lot too. So yippee! I think I finally have a bit more feel in canter and now it's not just getting into it (which used to be so stressful for me). It's also achieving balance and impulsion within the canter and wait for it ....altering the pace in canter. As I said, this is mostly on the left rein at the moment, but we worked out today what was going wrong on the right so I have something to work on.

Sammie was a star as usual and really worked his socks off. We also worked on the walk a bit (not Sammie's best pace) and that really started to come together a bit better as well.

Then we worked on an imaginary square and at the corner I had to half halt, weight my inside seatbone, keep the reins low and do a very subtle sort of 'bobbing' movement with my hands side to side. The idea is to get Sammie to turn on his haunches, so his back feet make tiny steps but in the same place and his forehand comes round - turn on the haunches basically. Oh and you also have to bring your outside leg really forward to the girth - taking it back makes the bottom swing round rather than the forehand. We got a few tentative steps of it and Sammie was really trying to work it out.

We also worked on getting the bend better on the right rein (Sammie's worst rein and not helped by me) It means he has to stretch the muscles round the offside which he finds a bit more difficult but RI said we had a real improvement - something else to work on. I kept saying to RI how hard Sammie is trying and how giving he'd become. She agreed but reminded me that I'd also put in the work and if I hadn't or didn't, I wouldn't be getting this from him. I thought that was a really nice compliment and I guess she's right. But Sammie is giving it back in spade loads. The only reason he can't do something is because I haven't got the right idea in my head and once I get it right, he gives it up with great generosity of spirit.

He also tried a few voluntary Spanish Stamps at the end. I think he was trying to encourage RI to share one of her biscuits with him, which she did of course. He knows now that the white cooler bag contains all sorts of goodies!

Even K said what a lovely canter Sammie had when we were in the school the other day - I honestly never thought I would see that day!

Yesterday we went out with K and her young man (the four/five year old). Apparently at her old yard (a very miserable place by the sound of it) nobody would go out with her on him because he's so young. He was fantastic and K needs more experiences like that because she came off him earlier this year in quite a nasty fall, not his fault really, another horse bolted and he bucked and spun round.

Sammie was quite happy going out with his new pal.

Tomorrow I'm going to do some long lining with the young one and show K the ropes. I'm going to do a test run with Sammie first, get him going and let her get a feel of it and then we'll try with her boy. She's offered to muck out for me in return so I can't complain at that!

Poetry in motion

I was whizzed around the school by the orange monkey on speed today. He definitely had some energy to burn once we got going.

Once I put him into trot and then canter there was no stopping him - we just kept going and going and going. Not scary stuff, just powerful taking me forward kind of stuff. Mind you, with one of the canters I felt I was on some sort of crazy roundabout - not out of control, but just wondering when on earth he was going to be ready to stop! And when we were trotting he was really doing his gypsy cob power trot down the long side - I can't explain the feeling of that but it's something quite different.

He'd got himself pretty warm with all that stuff so we took a stroll around the school and then strolled back to the yard. He had to wait a bit for his supper though so he passed the time by warning the dogs away. He would never hurt them but I think it's a bit of a game for him and the dogs are very responsive!

Leapin' Sammie

We went for our hack today and we ended up riding to the pub. It was such a lovely, warm day we couldn't resist and I think the horses were glad of the break and a few crisps. Sammie shifted his bottom, but it was the longest hack he's been on for a while so he was quite a tired boy by the time he got home. Didn't stop him wolfing down his dinner though.

And guess what? Sammie jumped a log! Only a small one and he was following another horse but he did it - twice!

I just threw the reins at him and I can't say I was brilliantly balanced, but I didn't want to jab him in the mouth or bounce on his back. He got a big cheer for that!

If he hadn't taken me to it I wouldn't have done it. He had every opportunity to run out (especially the second time as he knew what we were up to) but he just kept going.

I know it's only a very small step, but the fact that he didn't seem to give it a second thought is a big step forward in my book.

Success!

No sedation, no fear, no panic, front shoes on, back feet inspected. All done in one of the most relaxed farrier sessions I've ever had - and I think Sammie would say the same.

I brought him round to the tea and coffee station as he seems pretty happy there. Farrier was happy because it was near the tea supplies. Sammie hardly threw a grump at all. First of all I told farrier I was just going to pick up his hinds as if I was picking them out and brushing them off and he could just come and stand by me and take a look. This worked and Sammie just stood there while we took a good look. Farrier said the frogs were excellent and I was doing a good job. I just need to keep on top of that flare on the right hind, but as he said, this is partly a conformational thing.

Then we moved onto the fronts and Sammie took it all in his stride while I gave him his pony nut treats all the time each leg was being held up. No problems at all, even when farrier pulled his legs forward to finish off. YM and interested onlooker were there as well so we all just chatted away and Sammie just stood there, very aware but not in a panic at all.

I could just feel all the tension leaving my body and that must have helped Sammie too. I'd planned it all out in my head - where and how and I just knew he was going to be alright.

We still don't know if we are going to have trouble further down the line, but we're doing the best job we can and I think Sammie is as relieved as I am about ridding ourselves of the hind shoeing trauma.

Unfortunately farrier had the day from hell today and was absolutely cream crackered, so he phoned and asked if he could come tomorrow. How could I say no to this man? He's never done it before and to be honest I'd just had such a lovely long-lining session with Sammie, it was great that he wasn't going to be wound up at all. So farrier is coming tomorrow around 5pm. Poor man, he still had another five horses to do and he really sounded quite worn out.

I long reined Sammie in the school and he was an absolute charmer. We can canter really well on the right rein now as well as long as I set everything up correctly. What a little star he was. Trotting along and then with just a small release and bringing the inside rein forward, off he'd go into canter. Then back to trot, up into canter. I realised today that I had been getting rather tense on the right rein (because I know it's not so good) so today I kept him on a large circle and just breathed out. Sammie had no problem with that at all.

So it was nice just to be able to take him back to the yard, give him his supper and then turn him out. His field mates immediately spotted something going on down the end of their field and wandered off at a speedy walk. Sammie stuck with me for his stretch exercises and when we were done he took off at canter to go and investigate.

I often wonder if he appreciates the different life he has now to the one he had when I first met him? Something must register somewhere mustn't it? Or are they truly 'in the moment' animals? They must have some sort of memory to remember pain, but that's a survival thing.

Hmmm....maybe going too deep here so I'll stop.

Rain, rain, go away!

Can somebody please turn the tap off? This is getting pretty miserable now. I don't mind changing weather, but after the lousy summer this really is getting a bit much.

Sammie DID NOT want to come out of his bedroom yesterday so I think it's starting to get to him too. I know they're horses, but I'm sure the strange weather has an affect on them as well - they don't know whether they should be growing a warmer coat or not.

I gave him the day off yesterday as by the time I got to him I would have got him wet if I'd exercised and then I wouldn't have been able to put his outdoor rug on until he dried out. Today I planned to ride earlier on; that's if he would agree to come out of his bedroom of course!

I took Sammie in the school, in the end. I am dogged by a nagging doubt at the very back of my mind: "Is this going to be the day?" I really do have to try and control it a bit more I think.

He was an absolute star. One of those days when we could have just trotted forever. Slow trot, fast trot a bit of canter, he did it all and only with one spook down the scary end (it was VERY scary down there today!). We did a good half hour but it was all work and although he still had petrol in his engine, I decided to stop as he'd been so good.

I had a bit of a go with his feet when we got back and again, he was as good as gold - still a bit more snatchy with the right than the left but then he's always been that way. I've got a sanding block now and I find that quite useful just to smooth of the little rough bits that crop up every now and again. He's still chipping a bit, particularly where the clips were but farrier said that would happen so we just have to go through it.

I think I'll just long rein him in the school tomorrow before the farrier. Nothing too strenuous, just something to get him moving. I don't intend to sedate him tomorrow either. He's ok with his fronts and we'll just play it by ear with the hinds although our farrier can usually tell what's going on underneath the foot by looking at the outside anyway. I just want him to check that we're doing as best as we can and any useful pointers that he can give me.

Here comes the rain again...

The orange gang are all rugged and it's only September! This is so depressing. We managed to hack out today in a rainless spell - quite a miracle really. In fact the sun was actually trying to come out, which seemed quite novel after the past few weeks of nothing but dull, grey skies. When we got back to the yard the rain started again and hasn't stopped since.

We went out with YM on Sammie's ginger girlfriend, and new girl. It was only for just over an hour but we picked up some speed on the good ground and Sammie flew up a hill and totally puffed himself out by the time we got to the top.

I long lined him yesterday so after the ride today I reckon I can afford to give him tomorrow off if the weather is as dire as it was today. We were saying that we'll probably change the day/night out rota sooner than we expected if it carries on like this. I was hoping we'd keep them out at night until mid/end October, but this weather is something else.

Pole dancing

We rode in the jumping field again on Sunday. Boy, Sammie certainly shifts his backside in there! Not in a napping type of way, but just getting on with his stuff. I think I prefer riding out there than in the school.

We even popped over a pole again and he even did a little jump - not a scared, panicky type of jump; quite a launch but not with any fear - well I didn't feel anything anyway. It did take me a bit by surprise but I just made sure I threw the reins at him so I didn't accidentally jab him in the mouth.

Monday was his day off and yesterday we managed to fit in some long lining in the school. I was expecting him to be a bit grouchy because YM said they had all come in shivering after their naked night out in that horrible driving rain and wind.

Apparently they couldn't get into their stables quick enough. They were soaked and YM had to remove the water with a sweat scraper before she could put their and Thermatex rugs on. After breakfast they just fell asleep with Sammie hitting the deck first.

Anyway for that reason I was not expecting him to be particularly lively but he was and he did some lovely cantering as well. We only did 20 minutes but he did work quite hard.

Farrier is due on Monday so it'll be interesting to see what he thinks of Sammie's feet. They are growing like crazy but I think I'm managing to keep on top of the hinds. They're still chipping a bit here and there but I don't think we'll be through to full strength until the whole hoof has grown out.

Extreme hacking

Our hack went very well yesterday and we were out for longer than we expected. Not sure why, but time just ran away with us. Sammie gave me no real reason for concern - he was a little jumpy on the way out but soon settled down and started racing his ginger girlfriend towards the end (much to her great annoyance!)

I just let him go at his own pace in walk, trot and canter. Hardly any rein control at all - just letting him stretch out and run! He really did run at one stage but I didn't feel unsafe at all. If we came across some hard stony bits we just went off piste through the heather (watching out for rabbit holes along the way) - I'm not sure if we need to do this, but best to be cautious I reckon.

He was pretty tired and very sweaty by the time we got back but soon perked up after his shower when he knew supper was on its way. We have two new horses at the yard and their human is very keen to get out hacking, so we might have another partner there. One of the newbies is a youngster (4 years old) - part Welsh, part Warmblood and part something else - quite a dolly mixture but a real honey.

I went down to the yard later in the hope that it might have cooled off a bit, but no chance there. So I took Sammie to the pond field for a spot of long lining.

He went off in his 'hot to trot' mode - I wasn't pushing him at all, he just decided that's what he wanted to do. I thought he'd be a bit tired after yesterday but obviously not. I keep half expecting that time to come when he just doesn't want to go into trot (that's how I'll know something is going wrong back there). I do try and put it out of my mind but it's a hard habit to kick. I just remember so well when all had been ok and Sammie had been trotting merrily along on the long lines and then gradually he became more and more resistant until it was obvious he couldn't do it at all.

Anyway, enough of that; always work with the horse that you've got in front of you.

Sammie did some nice canter work as well during his speedy work out. By the end he'd calmed down a bit so we did some more controlled work, had a long stretching walk and then went home for supper after yet another shower to cool him off again.

I plan to take him to the jumping field tomorrow for a spot of schooling and to see if he'll attempt the poles again. If he doesn't want to, that's fine by me, but it'll be interesting to see if he will.

Red Rover, Red Rover, will Sammie move over?

Sammie and I managed to go round in ever decreasing circles today. I thought it might be a good idea (for a change) to see if I could get him to move his hindquarters away from me on the long lines. So I put him on a small circle, asked him to walk on and then pointed at his bottom and said "Over". He partly got it at one stage but was very keen to show me his Spanish Stamp at the same time.

He was going round and round in ever decreasing circles doing his silly walk and occasionally moving his bottom over until he had managed to wrap the ends of the long lines around my legs and came to a grinding halt as he was effectively tied to me.

So instead of walk and one Spanish Stamp, he put his head right by me and Spanish Stamped at standstill. We got in a right old tangle and Sammie's face was a picture. It would have got very interesting if he'd decided to run off!

A bit tied up...

Sammie and I managed to go round in ever decreasing circles on yesterday. I thought it might be a good idea (for a change) to see if I could get him to move his hindquarters away from me on the long lines. So I put him on a small circle, asked him to walk on and then pointed at his bottom and said "Over". He partly got it at one stage but was very keen to show me his Spanish Stamp at the same time.

He was going round and round in ever decreasing circles doing his funny walk and occasionally moving his bottom over until he had managed to wrap the ends of the long lines around my legs and came to a grinding halt as he was effectively tied to me.

So instead of walk and one Spanish Stamp, he put his head right by me and Spanish Stamped at standstill. We got in a right old tangle and Sammie's face was a picture. It would have got very interesting if he'd decided to run off!

Poor Jack had to have stitches in his leg today (nasty cut) and they completely knocked him out for it. He came to the yard (but can't run around) and he looked pretty well out of it, poor boy - dazed and confused but still able to find a stick. He has to be kept from running around for 10 days. He's going to be a crazy dog by the end of that stretch!

Tomorrow we're going to try hacking out with Sam and Savannah. I thought it would make a nice change and I can always turn back if Sammie doesn't feel right. Doubting Thomas I know, but you know me. We'll take it easy and keep to good tracks and see how we go.

I ain't afraid of no jumps!

Today we rode to the jumping field (we haven't ridden in there before) - well, I got on as we neared the field. I wanted to make it as easy as possible for Sammie as he hasn't been out, ridden on his own for some time now and he can get a bit 'sticky' when he starts worrying.

Basically I wanted to make success easy for him. When he came into my life, it was as a show jumper; he'd made a bit of money doing that, but somewhere along the line it had gone wrong, and since we've been together, his aversion to poles and jumps in a school has been pretty hard to miss. I don't like to think too much about what caused his fear of all things jumpy. My imagination could go wild! Was he "knocked"? Was he pushed too hard? What happened to make jumps a thing to be afraid of?

As we got near the field on foot, I noticed the cows were in the next field, but that didn't bother Sammie one jot. He has already demonstrated his cow herding skills on the farm!

I found a log and hopped on half expecting (bad, I know) for him to want to do an about turn and head home. There was nothing of the sort, he strode out bravely towards the jumping field causing the cows to rustle about a bit. Somebody had put up some pretty large jumps but there was plenty of room to walk, trot and canter in between them. There were also a few poles on the ground (more on that later)

Sammie was a very fresh boy. He really comes to life very quickly when he feels the grass under his feet. So we took off at quite a pace, but it wasn't him being scared of the jumps - he can often get very fast when he's feeling scared and I know that feeling very well; he was just up for some action.

So we weaved in and out of the jumps at trot on the left rein and right rein, went into canter, back to trot and did some lovely lateral work with practically no rein contact at all.

As I said, there were some poles on the ground (normally Sammie's worst fear) but these were nicely nestled in the grass so they didn't glare out at him.

When we first went in, just walking around he was avoiding them for all he was worth so I just ignored it. Then as we did more and more work and he was more and more switched on to me I kept wondering if he might just go over one.

So as we were doing a very nice walk (really in my hand) I just pointed him at it and over he went, no problem at all. Big click/treat moment. Then he did it again and again and again (more treats). I left it alone for a while and did some trotting. As we came across the field in trot, I pointed him at the pole again and he took it all his stride. Big, big treat moment.

We did it a couple more times and on the last one, he took a wee little jump over it! Not a scared, rushing jump. Just a hop and a skip and then broke into a gentle canter. Big hug and big treat moment with lots and lots of praise.

So where did that come from?

I thought it would wind him up just being in a field of jumps, but that didn't bother him at all. I thought he would really hesitate at the pole on the ground, there there was nothing of the sort. I even had a few doubts in my head, but that didn't put him off either. He felt so relaxed and happy to be moving around that field with the cows as his audience.

I was quite gobsmacked as we rode back to the yard and Sammie just pootled along on dangling reins. Then I thought maybe I "feel" different when we're not riding in the school, which he might link into. Whenever we put poles in the school we always seem to go into leap and crazy rush mode.

It could be something very deep down - maybe because his many jumping competitions (and probably his early training) were always done in a school/arena. I don't know, but he felt so willing and free out there in the jumping paddock.

So that's another place to do some work now. I really think it's good to vary the environment, especially in Sammie's case. It helps build up the variety of work as well.

When we got back I decided to take advantage of the weather and give him a bath. He just stood there soaking it all up. That was followed by a bit of hoof rasping (which he was very good for), then dinner and out to the field.

I don't think Sammie will ever cease to amaze me.

In the moment...

I don't know what to make of anything right now. I was watching Sammie yesterday, so happy to have his head in between RI and her trainee, who were sitting either side of the patch of grass he was munching on after our lesson.

Trainee was idly playing with his forelock and RI was giving his head the odd scratch as she chatted away. Neither had any feeling that he might do anything harmful, you could just tell by how relaxed they were with him.

Sammie just looked so relaxed, as if he was meant to be there. It's hard for me to remember sometimes what he used to be like when he first came into my life, and then see him as he was today; it seems like the Sammie I see now is just the Sammie he's always been. Relaxed, comfortable in his space, master of his domain. No hint of any baggage.

When I got him back to the yard I ground tied him (just his lead rope dangling on the floor). He had all four of us (YO, RI, trainee and me) moving around him, busy with our stuff, and again he just looked so relaxed, accepted all the buzz around him, was not perplexed or alarmed by an of it.

Trainee went up to give him some fuss which he welcomed. He had people walking in front and behind him and he couldn't have given two hoots about it. Not wary at all, just watching the goings on with curiosity and interest.

In fact he was being so good that YO offered him a bit of her Cadbury's chocolate finger, but he wasn't too keen on that so it was swiftly replaced with a carrot which was much, much better!

It gives me so much pleasure to see people interacting with him in this way. When I first got him, everybody was so wary of him and would avoid handling him if they possibly could. He was not a horse that people would feel inclined fuss or be too close too because he was deemed unpredictable.

It just struck me today how much softer he has become. How much happier he can be in the company of humans (well, the right sort of humans anyway)

I've always thought of him (maybe wrongly) as a horse with behavioural issues, but today, nobody would have said he had any issues at all. He just looked like a regular horse that had led a quiet and regular life, always treated with kindness and respect, nothing to raise suspicion.

I guess it's because others didn't see him at the very beginning - a broken horse, totally closed down and so angry. When people see him like he was today, they can't see his past, what I know was there.

That's good I suppose, but it also means that people don't realise how far he has come.

Maybe that just has to be one of the many special things between him and me.

I know, and Sammie knows, and that's probably enough.

Counter canter?

Eeek! Counter canter is not nice. It feels weird, but we were giving it a go in our lesson today. Not at all elegantly but we were doing it - although RI seemed quite impressed.

It involved cantering up the track to the middle of the school and turning back on ourselves in a shallow loop (so basically the outside leg is leading) then going round in a shallow loop to the right (in counter canter) and then going round to the left so you're leading with the inside leg again. It made Sammie do some nifty turns I can tell you! I nearly flew out the side door with one of his left turns and sent RI and her trainee/observer into fits of giggles. The final left turn felt like one of those turns that you see Western riders do.

The amazing thing for me (apart from Sammie's quick response to my weight aids) was that we kept the canter throughout all of that. That would have seemed an impossibility a year ago. Apparently this is also one of the ways to start canter pirouette - I thought they were kidding but was told I was half way there. Hmm....all a bit beyond me I think. Maybe Sammie could do it with a better rider, but not with me.

We started the lesson with some exercises to get Sammie's back end going. He's always been more stiff on the right, so the idea is to get that right hind really stretching over in lateral work. We also tried turn on the haunches. Again I'm sure Sammie is more than capable, but my mind tends to go into meltdown with this leg here, that leg there, this hand doing that and the other hand doing something else.

As RI was saying, the more you do, the more you notice things that need to be worked on. I don't know how far Sammie and I will get with all this. But just to have those strides of nice canter on the left rein and to be able to get it so easily will never cease to amaze me.

Sammie worked very hard, bless him, so he got a bit of a chocolate brownie from RI at the end and then just stood munching the grass round the edge of the school while we chatted. I explained how all this barefoot business had made me quite nervous but they both said that he was sound and the best help I can give him is to keep him strong. All sounds sensible, but I take that in, agree it sounds sensible, while my mind wanders and works in mysterious ways!

Let me take you down, cuz we're going to....

Strawberry Fields!

Yesterday Sammie and I went longlining round the strawberry fields. Sammie was in marching mode so we got round in double quick time and I decided to take him into the pond field for a quick whizz in there. Well, he found that highly exciting and I have to confess that I had very little control at times. I think he considered it an incredibly odd thing to be doing, so he decided to high tail it and throw in a couple of bucks for good measure. I got back to the yard exhausted - he looked as fresh as a daisy.

I managed to have a bit of a go with his hinds over the last couple of days - little and often is the way forward I think and then there won't be too much to do in one go. YM said she thought I had done a pretty good job and they are starting to look a lot better now the nail holes are growing out. I still have my doubts as to whether he will make it through this or not, but at least I know that I'm giving him every chance.

He really was looking lovely after I'd cleaned him up back at the yard and I gave him his dinner out the back in the tea and coffee area as he quite likes it in there (probably because that's where the food is!) .

After that he just stood there ground tied waiting for me to finish a cup of tea and YM commented that he really is looking good and wouldn't look out of place in a showing class. That made me feel very proud and I have to say he did look beautiful - just one of those moments I guess.

Backs off, so back off!

The farrier had pronounced that Sammie's hinds are looking good and he's doing a fine job of keeping them in trim himself. He said it must be a mixture of the type of work and the sand in the school giving them a bit of a manicure, like a nature emery board!

He said the shape was pretty good although the right does have a slight flare (he's always had this but it used to be a lot worse) . I was pretty pleased because I said what I thought needed doing and the farrier agreed; that was the right outside heel.

However Sammie, whilst absolutely foot perfect with the fronts, was a monkey with the hinds. Not so bad with the left, but the right got too much for him. Part of me was concerned that maybe he's feeling pain in his left so he doesn't want to put more weight on it. But then I've seen him rest both equally and as YM said, he's still stepping through nicely. I'm going to give him a day and then have another go myself. Our farrier talked me through exactly what to do and said to call him if I needed any advice.

I think this is the best way forward - just Sammie and me. Always has been and always will be I guess! As the farrier said, the feet really didn't need anything doing to them; a lot of it would be purely cosmetic. But he would feel totally happy if that right heel just had a bit taken off it and that's doable when I get Sammie on his own.

If I do a little bit every day, "a couple of strokes a day" as the farrier advised, I'll have it under control. Ok, they don't look as pretty as they could but who cares? I know we're not out of the woods yet and we've got a long way to go but I feel happy that I know what I'm looking at.

My other theory at the moment - a gut instinct really - is that the Sedalin might actually be making him worse with his hinds. I think the if he happens to be feeling extra vulnerable that day for some reason, the Sedalin just heightens that feeling. He wouldn't even accept YM picking up the right foot today and she picks his feet out every day without a problem.

So next time, farrier will do the fronts without Sedalin (Sammie will be fine) and he can advise me on the hinds. Blimey, I never thought I'd be learning how to do things like this! I tell you, if I ever got another horse I would have this farrier look after its feet like a shot. He is just so patient and so keen for me to succeed.

We might meet a problem in one or two, three or four months time, but at least I know I'm doing my best under the circumstances and Sammie will hopefully be happier about the whole thing too. I've got to go back to little steps on this one.

We've a new arrival on the yard: a miniature shetland! She's just 6hh. I arrived at the yard today to find YM and farmer giving her a bath. What a cutie with the smallest hooves you've ever seen. She's been known to sit on the back seat of the farmer's truck, she's been in the lounge at the cottage and she's even sat on the sofa. Nothing scares that wee little thing at all. She's full of confidence and is as bright as a button. She's got her own little trap, too.

I brought Sammie round to get him ready for riding and he really couldn't work out what she was. She obviously smelt like horse but I don't think he'd ever seen one so small. Talk about little and large. Daisy wasn't put off at all when Sammie walked up to her. She stood her ground and carried on munching her hay. Not bothered in the least.

Can canter, can't stop!

I can't stop Sammie cantering on the left rein now. He's gone from being a horse that was difficult to get into anything that resembled a canter to a horse that once he starts, won't stop. He will break for a trot now and again, when he decides that what I'm asking might be a good idea, but the slightest move from me and he's off again. This is primarily on the left rein - his favourite side.

We were working on the long lines today and the barmy thing just kept doing it! Not a crazy canter at all, so nothing to worry about. In fact it's a pleasure that he's so willing. When I eventually got him back to walk he immediately started the Spanish Stamp with both legs - still very odd looking and it does make me laugh with all the effort he puts in with such a stern and determined look on his face.

Crikey, these days if you give him an idea he takes it to the extreme. Funny boy. He made me quite dizzy today.

It's a month without hind shoes now and I still can't see any tell tale signs. I just hope our farrier doesn't tell me something different on Thursday.

Hot work, cold shower

We did some long lining today and his canter on the left is coming on so well. It seemed I just had to think canter and he was off. He got very puffed up at one stage, all proud and arched, and just want to go, go, go. Then he decided the Spanish Stamp might help. I had to laugh because he was trying so hard to do both legs while walking along but he really can't seem to sort his legs out and ends up at a standstill in the oddest position, looking at me as much to say, "Well? What do you think of that then?" Why on earth does he like doing that so much?

I was a bit of a sweaty mess by the end of all that and Sammie was very grateful for the cold hose treatment. Just stood there ground tied and didn't move a muscle apart from lifting his hind leg very slightly when I sprayed his crown jewels, but I think he quite liked it once he got over the initial shock!

I remember the first days of hosing and bathing Sammie - it was an absolute nightmare, so much so that I gave up in the end and used to sponge him down instead. I think he was just plain terrified of the hose. I've heard that some people use hoses and plastic water pipes to beat horses because they don't leave marks on the skin - nice eh? I'm not sure if that was every in Sammie's life, but now he's an absolute angel and he still gets some treats for being so good.

I rode in the school this morning hoping that it might be a wee bit cooler, but by the time we got ready the sun was starting to do its stuff. It didn't seem to put Sammie off though, he worked so hard. We worked a bit on transitions and I think I must be improving because he is starting to listen more and more.

The important thing seems to be to start off as you mean to go on. No dawdling or pootling, but clear directions and signals right from the start. Well that seems to be the way with Sammie. We still warm up and down properly but we do it all with purpose if that makes sense.

We really were hot and sweaty after nearly 40 minutes of that so I decided to give him a proper bath for which he seemed pretty grateful. Stood there like a rock with his lead rope dangling on the ground and even let me get the hose right up his neck to just behind his ears. He was wary and lifted his head a bit but certainly wasn't that bothered by it.

Barefoot in the Park

Sammie and I had our first hack with back bare feet this past Sunday. Sammie didn't seem to be ouchy at all, despite a few stony areas. Helps that the soil here is sandy, so the stones sink into the sand under pressure. We were only out for about 45/50 minutes walking with one or two short trots. He was tracking up the whole way round and I certainly didn't feel anything that worried me. I think he's lost a wee bit of fitness, but apart from that we came back in one piece.

I long lined him yesterday just to check that he was still ok and he was. In fact he did the most lovely canter on the left rein I've ever seem him do and on quite a small circle. So for the time being, we seem to be on the right path. I'm still going to be building it up gradually over the next month or so and I'll be interested to hear what our farrier thinks when he seems him next week.

I've been thinking about Spanish Stamp and I think I know what I've got to do. Yesterday on the long lines we did start to get the other leg working a bit too - not brilliant but he was shocked by the amount of praise he got for it so hopefully it will help. We also did the hoppity hop version as well and once he starts he just doesn't want to stop. It really does need two people. He does it with such energy though, not an elegant rise and fall but a real STAMP. I can't work out why he does it with such force! But it does make me laugh.

Sleight of hip

I had my lesson in the morning and I was surprised when both RI and her trainee observed that Sammie actually looked a bit loser on the back end. Quite comforting that they could see a minor improvement rather than any problems at the moment. Time will tell.

RI understood that I had been taking it a bit easy with Sammie since the shoes had come off, so we spent some time revisiting subtle aids and getting his hocks to really lift up in trot. Then we worked some more on the paces within trot. This was followed by some sideways work with Sammie crossing his legs beautifully at one point.

Then we moved onto canter, again with subtle aids. By the end, just one gentle nudge with my inside leg and a slight lift of the hip, brought an immediate reaction and RI said you couldn't actually see me doing anything at all. One interesting thing she made me do was put my stirrups up a hole. She said as I hadn't been riding so much I didn't look comfortable. I thought I'd feel like a jockey but it actually felt so much better, helping my legs to stay more still and gluing my backside to the saddle in canter.

RI said that some days you can ride longer and some days you just can't, so there's no point struggling and getting into bad habits. Although you obviously shouldn't ride too short, her point of view is that once the legs and backside learn where they should be and what they should be doing, they will be able to do it at any length, but they have to learn first. So if on some days you feel you're struggling with longer stirrups, make yourself more comfortable and put them up a hole as you'll ride a lot better. Made perfect sense to me.

Sammie was a superstar, but I know and I can see where I keep confusing him and blocking him at times - poor boy. His cantering at the end was lovely on the left rein, but then RI upped the ante a bit more and said we needed to work on paces within the canter with a big smile on her face. Hmmm...now that was hard work! We worked on that for a wee bit by using core strength to slow it down. I used too much and Sammie came to a standstill, so at least I learnt something!

RI was explaining about asking for canter when the inside shoulder is moving forwards as this gets the horse to lead from their back end rather than their front end, so you get a much better canter.

I just love all this stuff about the subtle aids; nobody can see what you're doing but things happen. My RI is really into this, not only because it looks far better, but it also means that the horse is really listening and won't get deadened to constant requests. That's what had happened to Sammie before he was mine, and that's what we had to work through together. You have to be consistent when retraining, and while I'm certainly not consistent enough (yet), I do have Sammie going into canter from a nudge of my inside leg and a lift of my inside hip, so subtle that you can't even see what's happening. That is truly, truly amazing to me. I just wish we could have RI there with us more often. She really does have a great way of getting us to focus and learn and have some fun at the same time.

Struttin' Sammie

Sammie is still offering it up, strutting around the school and doing his big bouncy trot. I keep wondering where on earth this trot has come from. I can really feel his legs lifting and going forward with a distinctive side to side movement as well. It's difficult to explain, but it's a sensation of power more than anything.

I think it all started when our RI showed me how to open him up down the long side of the school after taking it slow and balanced round the corners. So I'm guessing that those back feet can't be sore otherwise he just wouldn't want to be doing that at all. We had one reasonable canter on the right rein (our worst side) so we called it a day after that. When Sammie has his working head on, he's a whole different horse.

Hard hooves, soft heart?

We haven't had any rain here today (yet) so I rode Sammie in the school and once again he gobsmacked me slightly. It was in the morning so he was a wee bit sleepy but once we got shifting he was lovely. He even did his slightly extended (or opened up) trot (the one that nearly bounces me out of the saddle) down the long side and he just felt so willing to do it.

Then I thought we'd try the canter and again, he did just as I asked - trot to canter for a few strides, back to trot, back to walk and then walk to canter. We did it a few times and he responded really well. I think I'm sitting to the canter a bit better as well. Probably because he is more 'up' when he goes into canter and we stop before I lose the plot! We were in there for about 45 minutes including warm up and stretching out at the end.

YM suggested we try taking him out for a very short (40 min) hack next week some time on the easy smooth tracks, just to see how he goes. If he looks or feels dodgy I can get off and walk and it will be good to have someone there to keep an eye on him as well. Farrier advised to just gradually build up the work and exposure to different surfaces during the first month, so that sounds like a good plan. I just put a wee bit of the hoof hardener today before turning him out as I don't want all this wet weather to mess with his feet - I'm probably being over protective, but I think I'm entitled to be

Ministry of Silly Walks

Sammie and I did some long lining today. We long lined down to the school via the lane and went back the same way to make up for the tarmac work we couldn't do yesterday unless we had both wanted to drown.

This Spanish Stamp thing is such a favourite that I only have to start it off and he just won't stop. But now he thinks it's good fun to just do it with one leg while he's still walking along even though I haven't asked for it. Talk about a silly walk! And he gets so annoyed when a treat doesn't come his way. I have to put him into trot to get it out of his head.

His hinds are still looking ok with all this wet weather and there's no ouchiness. He's still springing along in trot, so all is looking good three weeks in.

Ole!

Striding forward

Sammie did some long lining yesterday, so we went for a tarmac walk in hand today - making sure his head was out in front at all times. He really does worry when he's out there and keeps glancing back to make sure I'm still there. Poor lad, you can see it written all over his face, but he keeps going and that's the main thing.

I found my 2006 diary while I was sorting out a mound of paperwork the other day. I shouldn't have looked, but I couldn't help myself. He went barefoot on the hinds at the end of March 2006 and by July we had a right hind problem followed swiftly by the left hind kicking off again with that same horrible lump thing between the coronet and fetlock. So that's around three months after the shoes coming off, which is roughly as I remembered it.

However, he had been unlevel for about 2/3 months prior to that with only one shoe and a plate on the left hind (putting extra stress on the right hind I guess) so that might have been why the right hoof had a problem. Lord knows why the left hind kicked off again; maybe it was taking the shoe off, maybe the foot wasn't in good enough shape to cope. Aaargh! Who knows?

I keep trying to work it all out in my head, but it's pointless. Only time will tell and I have to just deal with the now. And for now he's looking fine, not pottery at all.

To trot or not?

I rode Sammie for the first time in nearly two weeks yesterday. I was intending just to give him a walk in the school and hop off straight away if I felt anything odd.

"Walk?", said Sammie. "No, you don't want to be doing that - let's just trot and trot and trot!" Even when I didn't ask, he wanted to trot. YM was in the school at the same time and said he looked just the same as usual - she said he looked lovely going round. So we did about half an hour in the end and whilst it's wonderful to feel that he's still ok, I'm well aware that it could be a different picture in 2 or 3 months' time. But I guess we just have to keep going, although I will be avoiding overly rough tracks etc for at least the next month. I'll just keep trying to condition him on tarmac and wee bits of rough stuff without me on his back.

Today we did some long lining and he was as good as gold. He even went out of the school the opposite way we normally go back up to the yard. He had a mild tantrum about me changing the route but it was a good way to do some tarmac work as well. So we turned right, went down the hill and back up the lane. It was all a bit scary for Sammie, but we coped.

I managed to do a bit of rasping as well, just as the farrier showed me, to tidy up around the nail holes, so they're not looking too bad any more.

YM said Sammie's feet looked a really good shape and like me, she wondered how on earth the farrier managed it. She said he's so quick that he must do it purely on instinct; she would suspect any other farrier of not doing a proper job judging by the speed, but the proof is in the pudding on the fronts and hinds. He must just have a very good and practised eye.

Hoof OCD?

It's now official - I have become obsessed with hooves again. I've been reading my Pete Ramey book all over again and I've been inspected the feet of other horses on the yard. Yikes - I don't like the look of some of 'em I can tell you.

I had a go at a wee bit of rasping today with Sammie. He was as good as gold but I just can't hold those heavy old legs up for too long. At least he accepted me doing it. In fact he couldn't have looked less bothered if he tried. I just took off some of the rough bits that the nail holes had left.

We did some long lining and H (with her two dogs) was riding in the school at the same time. I knew Sammie looked ok but just wanted to check, and she also said he was looking just fine in walk and trot. I watched him going over the gravelly bits today and there wasn't the slightest hesitation.

I know I'm obsessed, but it's also made me realise that even though the farrier could never do the complete job he wanted to do on Sammie's hinds, he's managed to get them in far better shape than the previous guy ever could, even with Sammie under vet sedation. That really is quite amazing.

Sammie has a new neighbour, a big and beautiful bay with a great sense of fun. He's come to us on holiday before, but now he's come back to stay. He was in a dressage institution before so I'm sure his life is going to improve dramatically now. Sammie kept squealing and then the new boy decided that all the rugs hanging between them had to be pulled off the rails for closer inspection, nearly giving poor Sammie a mild heart attack.

Lip service

Well that swollen lower lip had turned into a bigger swollen lip this morning, so I was on the phone to the Vet. He said he thought it could be an infection rather than a sting as it had shown no sign of going down, so he came out and yes, it is an infection. Poor boy had to have another injection - anti biotics and painkiller and now he's on them for the week. He's also got a cream that has to go on twice a day.

Needless to say, he was not impressed and objected when I tried to wash it with some salt water. He wasn't nasty at all - just showing that he did not care at all for what I was trying to do to him. The Vet said he's obviously been putting his mouth somewhere he shouldn't and managed to cut it and get an infection in it as it's such a sensitive part of the body.

I managed to get the anti-biotics and danilon down him in his feed with some sugar beet - that was the only way he would even contemplate it. He's eating ok so that's a good sign.

So that took up most of my day. Blimmin' horses! That lip does look strange though and he keeps twitching it every time I attempt to go near it but he's trying to be a good as he can.

Hoof watch

I arrived at the yard today and I was greeted by YM who was very keen to show me some photos she'd taken of Sammie on her phone. She said he'd had one almighty rolling session and when he eventually got up he had a huge pile of straw hanging around his head. She was laughing so much she couldn't even keep the camera still enough, but did manage a couple of shots (when he'd lost a bit of the straw). He did look a bit of a sight I have to admit! Poor boy, having people laugh at him like that.

I took him into the school today. We long lined down there and went walking right around the edge of the school with my eyes firmly fixed on those hinds. He didn't look too bad at all. I didn't want him to trot too much but I did want to test if he would go into trot if asked (as this was a stalling point when our trouble started last time) He was very happy to go into trot on each rein so that was enough for me.

Then he demanded that we play 'Spanish Stamp' but this time he remembered that he also had to try to keep walking forwards at the same time. It all looks a bit clumsy but he's definitely getting the hang of it. Then he got over excited again and ended up doing a sort of bow with both legs out in front of him and he was determined to remain in that position until he got a treat. Bless him, that was after just one session with our RI and for some reason he really seems to enjoy it - not sure why at all but he gets very excited and busy!

Then I noticed that he had a swollen lower lip (just on the left side) I thought he was being a bit odd about the way he was taking the pony nuts, but then I realised that it was quite swollen. It wasn't causing him any sort of pain (I'd have know if it was!) and we reckon it could be a wasp sting or something like that. Poor boy. It's We're going to see how it goes over the next couple of days.

He did the same thing in the field today - I put him out first and YM brought up his field mates a bit later. As soon as he caught sight of him he took off at a blasting canter right down the length of the field. Monkey!

As you know, if we are going to have trouble, then it does take time to brew, but at least he's coping at the moment, doesn't seem to be uncomfortable and he still seems willing to do a bit of work (as long as it includes the 'Spanish Stamp'!) I just hope that lip doesn't get any worse. There's always something to worry about isn't there?

Waiting to exhale...

Today I decided to take his orangeness on a short tarmac walk - literally 5 mins and then up the back way to his field. We had to cross one or two gravelly bits but he didn't seem to put off by it and his attraction to the grass verges was all to do with his stomach rather than his feet as he proved to me once or twice. We took it slowly and worked our way back up to the field. We went through the 'back' entrance that's right up at the far end of the field - it makes a change and it's slightly longer walk on pretty good ground.

I turned him gently so I could shut the gate, gave him his treats, took off his headcollar and started to walk alongside him back to the normal entrance. He walked a few strides, turned to look at me and then took off at a speedy trot right down the length of the field. There I was taking it nice and easy and off he shoots like that! He looked nice and level and didn't do any ouchy steps from what I could see - not bad considering the ground is pretty hard at the moment.

I went to fetch his ginger field mates and he came over to greet them at a pretty pacey walk. We had a quick game of touching the headcollars for a clicks and treats (so obsessed Mother could watch him walk again) and then I left him to it.

Now I'm exhausted again, more down to worry than anything else I think.

Feet feat

I'm relieved the thing is done now because I was absolutely dreading it, but I can't quite stop the worrying. I'm mainly in control, but then there are those stomach churning moments when I think too much.

I had to work the next day, which meant leaving without seeing Sammie first to satisfy myself that he had survived the night. Course he had, and I knew it in my heart, but still, there is that compulsion to check. So I sent a text asking my YM if the boy was ok. I knew I was asking for it. She said both his feet had fallen off in the night but they had managed to glue them back on, followed up with yes, he was fine and seemed to be striding out boldly across the field. He'd had a pretty calm and restful day in his stable as well.

He was pleased to see me today and I took him out to give his feet a clean and check. Not sure what I'm looking for but just feel the need to do it. He was well behaved as usual - lifting each foot before I even asked for it. My farrier had advised me to keep them as dry as possible and just brush anything off rather than go in there with water or anything.

Sammie still seemed a little post-sedation sleepy to me but soon woke up when he sensed dinner was on the way and gobbled the whole lot up - that's always a good sign for Sammie. I took him up to the field on his own while his field mates were finishing off there feed and he seemed ok. To me he just seems a little unsure, but I guess it must be a bit of an odd feeling after having shoes on.

The hoof hardener goes on again tomorrow and then on Friday I think I might take him down to the school and just walk around on the long lines. I know I won't be able to take my eyes off those hind feet but I keep telling myself that if there are going to be problems they won't manifest immediately anyway.

So yes, I'm very, very relieved that bit is over, but the next few months are going to be a testing time in more ways than one.

I think one thing that Sammie does know is that he is loved - warts and all. He had a five year old feeding him Polos the other day and YM said that even when Sammie was pulling a few faces, the little boy wasn't scared one little bit. Other people on the yard are always so honoured when Sammie decides that he'll talk to them. I always hear reports of "Oh he actually let me hug him today" and "Oh he was so sweet today, he just let me stroke his face forever."

You see, Sammie is well aware of this 'Treat 'em mean, keep 'em keen' technique - I think it must be an Irish thing.

The deed is done

Both shoes are off and now we are in the lap of the Gods. I haven't been able to eat or think straight all day. Fortunately I was busy at work, but it still didn't stop my stomach churning every time it crossed my mind.

The vet phoned me this morning and said she could totally understand where I was coming from. She thought we'd done brilliantly to get as far as we have, considering the type of horse Sammie is, and said that you really do have to call it a day when you feel at risk for yourself and others. I ran through what we were planning to do and she had nothing to add. She said only time would tell and that she knows I will be taking every precaution I can.

So we all met up at 5pm today and Sammie was such a good boy for his injection. No snarling, just a couple of stamps of the foot. Even the vet was amazed by how much better he was as she hasn't given him an injection for over a year now. He went into 'hardly standing' mode in no time at all. YM took one look at me and asked if I'd like her to hold Sammie's feet. I was so grateful as I think I'd lost my bottle a bit. She did a brilliant job and the farrier did his job as quick as he could.

My vet was so nice about it all and said it was a shame, but you do have to be realistic. She said Sammie's looking so good and that his feet are looking so much better (including his fronts) - you should never say never.

Then our farrier took me through some photos of barefoot feet in his Pete Ramey book and told me to study them in the copy I've got at home. He also gave me a rasp to keep Sammie familiar with the process - not doing anything drastic just neatening up if I want to and we've booked our next appointment for July. Such a nice man - I can't believe how lucky I was to find him.

So we left Sammie in his box to sleep it off a bit, and then I brought him out to get the hoof hardener on. I did it on my own and he was as good as gold. By the time all the jobs had been done he was back with us so he went out to the field looking a wee bit sleepy but awake enough to take care of himself.

YM is going to bring him down and take him up to the field on his own for the next few days so she can control where he's walking and just go at the speed he wants to go.

Who knows what will happen next and where we will be this time next year. All I know is that I really have done my best and I will continue to do so.

Sammie Dancin'

I explained to my Riding Instructor (she comes to me every other week) about the situation I find myself in with Sammie about to go barefoot on his backs. She checked his shoes to make sure our efforts during the week hadn’t twisted his shoes and said she thought it would be a good idea to do some long reining practice if that was going to be the way forward with Sammie for the time being.

She's such a realistic and practical person and after hearing the whole story she made the point that he is now happier, healthier and has more muscular strength than he had before so that might just be the key to history repeating itself. She also said it might be a good idea just to get the vet out every couple of months or so just to check him over and put my mind at rest as she knows I'll be worrying like crazy and that could put me off working him.

Anyway enough of that... onto long lining, or long reining, which is what I think we were doing today. Well, my RI made me sick! I know Sammie's a good boy and we're not doing badly, but it was a whole new level watching what she can coax out of him with seeming ease. Sammie was as sharp as pin once she laid down the ground rules. He did his lovely trotting and then I mentioned that the canter (especially on the right) could be more problematical. "Ok", she said with a grin on her face. And Sammie literally just popped into canter. I couldn't even see what she did it was so smooth.

In fact all she did was get the trot right and then moved her inside hand forward with a click click sound to encourage him. I thought it just can't be that simple, but I managed it as well. Couldn't believe it. A lot of it is to do with keeping your horse's attention totally on you and RI had Sammie's attention hook, line and sinker. He was dancin'!

Oh and to bring him back to walk she just whistled very softly (makes you breathe out) and to stop completely it was two low whistles. She also reminded me about positioning of my own body, which had gone a bit off the boil as well.

She kept making the point that he has to do as I ask. If he goes off wrongly, he has to be brought back to start again. All the stuff I know, but often put up with because it's just Sammie and me, and we get into a bit of a routine about things, or perhaps too much familiarity.

"Precision" is a good word to describe RI's way of working. And Sammie wasn't stressed out at all. He worked hard seemed to actually quite enjoy it - he certainly had his horizontal ear action going on. She calls those "clicker ears" because they're relaxed, but focusing on what's being asked rather than anything going on around them.

Then it was lateral work. The lines went on the higher rings and she made it look so darned easy to get him to move across, crossing his back legs like a pro. I got in a bit of a tangle when I tried and found it all rather confusing, but at least I know it's possible and I'll just have to try to work on it. Then it was the start (only the very start) of piaffe - not something you can try on your own I think, but good to see. You back up in a two time rhythm with someone at the front end and then you let them ping them forwards. Sammie managed two steps of it I think, but boy, did he look impressive!

Then we tried a wee bit of Spanish Walk as Sammie was starting to offer it for some reason. RI got him to walk forwards on a good contact and she was close to his body. She had both reins in one hand and a lunging stick in the other. She just pointed to the inside leg and said "Up" and bless him he remembered - only with the inside leg but he was still moving forwards which is the important thing. Then the little love started offering both legs up (probably to see if he could get himself an extra treat, which he did of course!) and he looked just wonderful. So up, proud and boingy, but in control. Then he got a bit confused and over excited and did a sort of bow with both legs forward which made RI chuckle.

As I said, it made me quite sick to see just how good someone else is with him, but I really love this stuff and I think it's so good for the horse to be able to do it all without the distraction of a rider on board.

Crikey, if I left my RI to long rein Sammie for a month, he'd be an absolute star by the end. She said he'd probably worked harder than he would in a ridden lesson but he didn't really give her an ounce of trouble once she got him on her wavelength. He's more balanced on the left rein than the right but with work like that I'm sure we could even up quite nicely. I'd have lessons like that all week if I could, I just find it so fascinating.

It was good to do something so positive after the week I've had. Lord knows what we're going to be facing over the next few months, but Sammie has proved himself to be such a willing and talented lad over the last year - he was just waiting for us to find the right buttons that were hidden so deeply.

The Big Decision

Well I had to make a decision and I've made it.

A second visit from our very kind farrier this week to see if Sammie’s backs could be sorted (it’s a long story) and Sammie was not having any of it. You could just feel the tension and fear in him, and when we made the attempt to remove the shoe, the adrenalin kicked in. No damage was done but I just knew it wasn't going to happen. We had a couple of goes, but the feeling was not good at all. I just know it from handling him over all these years. The Sedalin didn't even seem to be touching the sides either. I think Sammie knew what was going to happen well in advance.

Farrier looked at me and said if I was his daughter he wouldn't want me putting myself in this position. I think my 'SAS roll' of Monday when Sammie shunted me aside shocked the farrier more than it did me.

So as I said, I've been thinking long and hard. Where do I start?

Firstly, my farrier is not going to be around for us forever and I know there's not another farrier that would do what he does.

Secondly, whilst Sammie has improved a bit, one can't afford to make one mistake in this area at all, but we're human and mistakes are going to happen - whether that's the farrier accidentally touching a leg with a rasp or what happened on Monday when Sammie stamped at the wrong moment and pricked his back hoof with a nail. If you make a mistake you take more than one step backwards, Sammie almost reverts right back to the beginning again.

Thirdly, I know it puts the fear of God in Sammie having his backs shod, and I just hate the fact I have to do this to him. That pulling and banging is just too much for him - I can feel it - it's like a time bomb waiting to go off.

And fourthly, yes I admit, being flung across the yard has knocked my confidence and reminded me what a dangerous position I'm in - not because Sammie wants to hurt me, but because by trying to get free, he could fling me in a really awkward way and I could do some real damage to myself. Then who would look after Sammie?

Some might think I'm a coward, but believe me you wouldn't want to feel that tension and fear in your hands holding one of Sammie’s back hooves while the farrier gets to work.

So I had three options.

Number one was to go back to what we used to do - knock Sammie out within an inch of his life on Sedalin with vet sedation and just hope he can cope with it (although he's still capable of kicking off in that state). I don't want to have to do that to him every five weeks - we all know it's not good for a horse.

Number two is to send him away to someone who can work with him on the problem. I have my doubts here. This is a really ingrained fear in Sammie and one that he just hasn't let go off. Sammie is also a different animal away from home, so I think that he might show signs of improvement whilst away but revert when he comes back. I also think it would knock him back in the confidence and trust stakes if I was to send him away into the hands of someone else.

Number three is to get the Vet out to dope him, remove the back shoes, get kind and patient farrier to trim the hinds and try him barefoot on the back. Yes I know, my worst fear because of what happened before (abscess), but to me this is the option I have to take.

I really have thought about it. Sammie's feet are stronger than they were after his operation, his frogs are so much better and the hooves are in much better shape. My farrier does a lot of barefoot trimming and has managed to improve Sammie’s hinds even though he can't do the complete job he would like to do. I know Sammie can take the trimming and rasping on the hinds and he can tolerate the shoeing on the front. Ok we might still need some Sedalin and help for the hinds but the things that panic Sammie are when the shoes are being wrenched off (especially if the pinchers get a bit caught) and when the shoes are being banged on. If he panics at the pulling off stage (and believe me it's not easy getting those shoes off) we've set him off feeling bad for having new shoes nailed on.

I'm going to talk to my vet about it and do everything I can to try and help Sammie cope barefoot on the hinds - whether it's me learning to rasp to keep the feet in shape between visits or supplements or whatever. My farrier has a lot of knowledge about barefoot horses and said all he'll do the first time is just roll the toe back a bit. I think we stand a better chance than we did with previous farriers who were less patient, less understanding and perhaps a little afraid of Sammie, and didn't have the knowledge trim for barefoot, but trimmed for shoeing.

It will mean changing our exercise routine to toughen the feet up a bit. Lots of walking on tarmac and soft ground to let him acclimatise. I know I can do all of that stuff and I'm happy to walk with Sammie for miles. We'll still be able to do stuff in the school. I'll just have to watch it on the hacking front until we think they're strong enough. That's if we get that far of course. Yes, I know the worst might happen and if it does I'll do the right thing by Sammie as awful at that sounds.

I haven't taken this decision lightly. I’m not just giving up or being a coward. But I do have to be realistic and I do have to take into account the other people involved here. It's not a money thing or a making my life easy thing - it's a whole lot more than that.

My farrier didn't pressurise me at all. He was prepared to come out again on Saturday and give it another go. I just looked at him and he said, "You've been thinking haven't you?" I think Monday brought a lot of things to a head and I knew it was time to make a call on the whole thing.

I've got to be brave, I've got to be responsible, I've got to be realistic and I'm going to have to be very positive.

I'm going to try and get the Vet out on Monday or Friday, when my farrier free. And then of course I'll be worrying myself stupid when those shoes are off. My yard manager had a good old chat with me about it and I said that I'll know immediately if it's going wrong, so she asked me to explain all the signs. She said she'll do anything she can to help and will obviously keep an eagle eye on him as well.

Sammie went out to his field quite happily this evening and I'll just take him for a walk tomorrow although I'm finding it hard to batt back the tears when I look at him at the moment. But that's not going to help so I'm just going to have to control myself.