Hacked Harry to the beach, across the creek and up the path parallel to Sims rd. Trotted all the way down the path once we got off the stones. Trying to keep him on a long rein as much as possible, and going away from home thats not too hard, just sliding a hand down th reins every so often to remind him. Trotting back down Sims Rd you do need to keep a contact with him, but just lightly and he was no problem.

Took Giant to the new developments, but didn't go to the beach, the tide was right in. Instead we trotted down the bridle path from where the road starts, and down the fork that heads towards Te Horo, then back down there and out to the landing strip where we did a couple of canter laps, pushed him out a bit (he wanted to go, then at the end he strted to think he was a bit tired) but it was really pretty wet.

Then it got wetter, it rained on us :(. Lol, wasn't too heavy, we trotted back down the bridle paths and walked home before we got too wet.

It actually turned into a reasonably nice day after the rain this morning. I hacked Harry out where I took Giant last time, through the developments and down to the te Hapua Rd entrance. Just did a little bit of trot and mostly walk until we got to the beach to save his energy. Then we went for a trot and canter down to the blue thingy. The beach was great, tide out but really stormy :). He did get a little bit excited, just when I brought him back from a canter and he wanted to keep going so we did that a few times. Made sure he was settled before we turned round and trotted most of the way back, doing a few trans to walk if he got a bit fast. Walked all the way back home.

Rode Giant up the hills down Harakeke rd, trotted a bit further down the road than last time and went up the hills after the fence, did much the same as last time, trotting up the hills and walking back down, letting him pause if he needed to, bt he was good, if you just let him take his time hes happy, its when you push him to go while hes a bit off balance that he start to just get a bit worried and rush or jump.

With schooling Harry I've been using some of the exercises from the 101 Schooling Exercises book (with an imaginary arena). After his usual warm up of walking and trotting on a long rein until he felt a bit looser, we started with Ex. 17, establishing working trot on a circle, then lengthening his trot out slightly across the diagonal, collecting him up again and coming to a halt. Lengthening then coming to a halt was good for him, pulling up and getting his back egs back underneath him beofore he go too strung out or hyper in the bigger trot. After doing this a couple of times each way I added a rein back after the halt.

We went onto Ex. 19, lengthening and collecting trot on a circle, which I think he did a lot better after doing the last exercise, he thought after lengthening that he was going to halt, so he was more ready to sit down and bring himself back, if he was a bit slow with it I just halted him again to remind him.

We finished by doing this same exercise in canter (Ex. 20), just pushing him out gradually for a few strides and then bringing him back before he got too excited about going fast, and building up the amount of strides we did.

Used the same exercises for Giant, but with him the emphasis was on the go rather than the stop parts. So with him in Ex. 17 I made the trot on the circle quite slow and started to build his trot up before the diagonal, then pushed him out as much as he could go on the straight line without falling on the forehand or trying to canter, then halted, sometimes also asked for a rein back, somtimes not, just to keep him thinking and listening. And again, the go after the halt is important for him, getting him to spring back into trot.

Ex.19, trans within trot on a circle, I do quite a bit with him anyway, but is still a very good exercise for him. And with him you can make a much bigger difference in his trot than with harry, brining him right back to a walk speed (but in trot), then focusing on getting him sharper off the leg so he would go forwards better and not disturb his balance.

Ex.20 in canter I modified a little, pushing his canter forwards on a bigger circle, then making the circle smaller as i slowed him down again so that he wanted to bring himself back, and the smaller circle means he has to bring the inside hind under himself more as he collects.

Giant probably ended up doing a lot of work today, I hacked him out as well, but he was really good :). Went down through the new developments, those dogs are all outside at the moment and they made a bit of a fuss, but he was pretty good about it, didn't do anything unreasonable. Trotted all the way along the path there to the beach.

Didn't plan on it but the tide was right out and the beach was so nice that I took him for a canter right down to the Te Hapua Rd entrance. Your right, he really did want to canter lol, not that fast mind, but he wanted to. Went for a splash to cool off and then trotted back. We came back through the developments again, just walking, I think he would have done a good few miles today.

Took Harry to the beach as well while the tide was out, except that we just went the normal Te Horo way, but then we headed up parallel to Sims road, while the tide was out there was space up the beach that way. Took him for a canter as well, he was great. Came back down Sims Rd, trotted where the verge is reall wide and then walked back. He was a little bit excited trotting, just made sure he stayed slow, asking him to slow down and then softening the rein again, rather than just pulling, until he just settled and trotted nicely.

Harry's been to the beach quite a bit lately so I went down Harakeke rd with him. Yay the hills on the other side of the hill road are finally open so I took him up there. Cool to have some steeper hills to ride on. He was good just cruising around them and then got a bit hyped up at the bottom a couple of times after I trotted him up a few. Just made him walk up the hills until he did it quietly and then when I trotted I waited until we were a little way up and then asked him to trot, or just kept walking if he got hyped up.

I wanted to jump Giant again, took him down there, but even just trotting around it was redicuously wet, so I took him out the same way as Harry. Trotted down the verge till we got to the new road and then up the hill just after the trees... its pretty steep, but then up hill isn't such a problem.

We went across to the new hills, was a very cool ride, it was late in the arvo with the sun setting and you can see pretty much 360 from up there. Good exercise for him on the hills, and good to have some steeper hills to practise on now. He was a good boy, started with easy hills and then zig zagged down much steeper ones, if he wanted to stop I just let him and actually rewarded him for it (its much better that he stops and collects himself than rushes down), then just quietly pushed him down again. Trotted and cantered him up a few hills and just kept letting him take him time going down.

Rode Harry out with you this morning, he was all good, prob a little tired from yesterday. So I concentrated more on watching you and Giant ;).

Try and really set things up to go right and don't let even the tiniest thing go past. Going down that stony path he was looking into every path to the left that lead off it and drifting into them, that would have been a good opportunity to correct him and get it out of his head.

Turning into the water is still the same thing, if you let him do it once hes going to try it again and each time he does it its going to be harder and harder to stop him. The first time he does it its will be a sort of "I wonder if I can just...", the fifth time he does it is going to be "I'm going". A lot easier to stop him the first time and tell him off so he doesn't try it again.

Sometimes its best just to avoid the problem so it doesn't get worse, you could have ridden up on the sand to avoid him turning into the water, or halted when a wave came towards him and then ridden him up towards the sand dunes so that he couldn't turn into the wave, but go were you've told him. Then you can start testing him to see if he'll stay parallel to the water for you, if not, go back and fix it.

I know hes strong - thats why you have to outsmart him instead of fight it. I also know its frustrating when you just want to have a nice ride, but you have to loose the frustration, it doesn't help either of you. You asked me the other day if I get angry (lol), but perhaps this is were it comes from... I learnt to ride on ponies that would try and buck me off every single day, I used to get very angry at them, but somewhere along the way I seem to have managed to loose all that (for the most part anyhow), I learnt over and over that it doesn't help. Sometimes you just have to stop and get a hold on yourself and focus on fixing the problem so that the next ride is better.

- I didn't tell you any of this while we were out there cos I wanted to see what was going on without disturbing you ;).

A couple of things on hacking out with others as well, doesn't matter so much with me on someone like Mate, but with other horses and riders... Always let the other person know what your going to do, don't just trot off and leeave the other person behind. Same at gates, always wait until the other person has got back on and sorted themselves over before you ride off. And when your riding infront, esspecially if your trotting and cantering just look back every now and again to make sure the other person is still with you.

I jumped Giant this afternoon, he was cool :). In our warm up I came down pretty hard on all his little habits... getting him properly infront of the leg and going forwards, and no letting him get that shoulder out, really making him turn properly. No excuses for anything.

Then all the work is the same, just with jumps inbetween. Hes getting a bit better at going forwards to and away from the jump and hes staying nice and straight for me. Still sometimes hes really lazy and just doesn't pick up, he hits it and doesn't even react. Thats the only thing he does that annoys me, usually they'll hit it and learn, he just does the same thing again, but that may change and they go up and he starts trying a bit harder.

And I did put them up again a little bit and he was better, I wanted to go up more but he slipped coming around as they were so I left it.

Took Giant to the beach, hoping he would do his turning for me, but he was really good lol. Took him to the beach the normal way so that I could ride him down the beach all the way. Took him for a trot and a canter and although he was a bit slowish and took a bit of get go he didn't think about turning.

We went a bit past the pink stump and then cirlced back to the right and off the beach through the developments. Cruised back through the hills and down the road, got a bit of a fright at the dogs but at least the cows were over the other side of the paddock :).

I just rode him in his normal bridle, but I'll set up a different one with the Fulmer bit for you. I think its probably best, even if you are cantering to pull him straight up if you feel him thinking about turning, stop him, make him straight, then hard forward again. If nothing else at least the transitions will help get him focused better on you.

It would also be easier to control him (and good practise for you) if you keep a contact on the bit when you trot and canter (still long rein for walking) him out hacking, that way you're ready as soon as he wants to try something. Then when you can trust him more start riding on a long rein again.

Was such a nice day I took Harry to the beach aswell, just took him in the opposite direction to entertain myself. Trotted through most of the developments and a little way south down the beach, went for a paddle and cantered most of the way back home, he was cool, actually better cantering than trotting.

Once the hype wore off from cantering and trotting so far he was a bit tired, that was quite a bit of work for him.

Got both of them clipped today, Harry was great, I'm sure hes been done many times before, trimmed his back feet as well. Just took it slow with Giant, he wasn't silly about it, just really wary of them. Ran them all over him again before I started and he settled down. When I started actually taking the hair off he got all worried again, and everytime I movd to a different spot I had to calm him down again. But by the end he was really good, just stood with the rope over his neck.

Kept him untied the whole time - always untie and hold them when doing something new or something they might not like.

Did similar work with both of them, getting Giant back into some basic schooling after his leg and Harry did some nice work.

Giant was a little... not naughty at all, but undisiplined, just coming against the aids and trying to lean a bit, so did some work to get him softer again. Starting with just a good trot around getting him to go forward, not just trying to cheat and escape into canter. Once he was going I wanted him to make his stride that bit longer to go forwards, instead of just running.

We practised lots of transitions, trot walk, walk trot, trot halt etc. On the downwards getting him softer in the rein again and in the upwards really jumping forward away from my leg. A couple of times I halted him and just did some standing flexions to get him to release a bit more when he wanted to set against me.

Inbetween harder bits of work I made sure to give him a good break, walking on a long rein, or encouraging him to stretch in trot.

If hes going to fall through a shoulder its the right one, so firstly getting him listening better to a neck rein and then using a flexion to the right to straighten so that he couldn't get that shoulder out.

Ended with a bit of shoulder in which he really enjoys, his lateral work is becoming a lot more established and we can start working on it more in trot as well now.

Harry I try to warm up on a long rein, so that he doesn't rely on me holding the ryhthm with they rein, but will stay there himself. He can be a bit stiff and slow to warm up, so with him I let him be a bit this way, there is no point in winding him up by making him go forwards, he will go anyway once he has loosened up a bit.

So lots of trotting big shaped in a nice slow rhythm until hes happy and then I start to take up the rein more, encouraging him still to be quite long in his neck and to start taking longer strides. Like Giant (like any horse really) he wants to just take quicker strides, but with harry he can go llama and start a bit of a panicked amble, so the key is stretching and just slowly pushing him for a longer stride.

His transitions are coming nicely and it can be the opposite to riding Giant (where I want him to be a lot more electric), Harry needs time to think a bit and just keep himself quiet. Especially in canter trans to the left, he will get it, but if you put pressure on him he just goes llama.

Back to a walk we did some shoulder in on straight lines and circles to help him loosen up and get him straighter, then worked on more canter, going forward and then coming back to a really nice slow canter, and back to a trot without leaning and throwing his shoulder down...

Giant's leg is starting to look better, most of the swelling is gone, its still just a tiny bit warmer than the other leg. Took him for a hack out off Harry, we went down Harakeke Rd and then the new road, right down the end where we went a few weeks ago. Gave them a trot together where the ground was soft. It was freezing and windy, Giant started a bit on his toes how he can be in that sort of weather, but he and Harry are really happy hacking out together like that so he settled pretty well.

Saddled Giant up and took him down for more work, started out with his new favourite, the pompom. He is good with it all over his body, its just up the top of his neck, around his ears and his nose. Strangely he actually likes it rubbed on his forehead lol.

At the moment I am trying to teach him that running backwards and throwing his head around does nothing, the only way to get rid of the pompom is to put his head down and wait. So I put it somewhere he doesn't like, ask him to lower his head, take it away as a reward. Repeat manytimes... I can rub it all over his head and ears now, hes not thrilled by it and tries to get away sometimes, but he can deal with it. I want to get him to wear he can deal with wearing it and not panic.

Then I put the tarp over him and got him to carry it around like Ra. He wasn't too convinced, but was good about it, didn't like it flapping around his legs, but he got better.

And finally attached the pompom to has saddle and gave him a quite lunge, he wasn't too sure of this either, but I just kept him going and focused on me doing walk trot trans until he got over it. Gave him a bit of a trot and canter. He should be fine to start some riding again tomorrow, just nothing to heavy.

Gave Giant the day off for his leg, will ride him this week end when that swelling should hopefully have gone down.

Took Harry on a big hack, we trotted down Sims Rd and I was going to go back along the beach, but then we went for an explore down the driveway/road? that continues on from Sims. Sort of went about 100m and then it opened up into these weird sort of paddocks divided by netting. Don't really know what they were, but we headed towards the beach a bit and then trotted and cantered up one of the paddock thingys, it was just a long strip until we came to some cattle yards. There was some people and someone on a tractor there so we turned around and came back.

Was a really nice ride, being that little bit further north the mountains looked amazing with all the snow. Harry was really good, enjoyed going somewhere different.

Giant had a bit of a fat knee, it doesn't look too bad, but I don't really like where it is -off fore on the outside at the bottom of his knee, where he has a splint already. Theres no marks so more likely hes strained it a bit, or it could be related to that splint, so best to lay off him a bit till it sorts out. So we just went down to the paddock and had a play...

Hes getting heaps better with the ball, and even started to enjoy it. Started out again with me kicking it and him following around, while I do this I concentrate on his leading, keeping him light off the pressure, not worrying about the ball, but focusing on what I'm asking him. Then kicking it all around him, esspecially under his nose, he doesn't like it when he suddenly sees it from his other eye.

He "got it" today, with actually kicking it along, he was better staying straight and going a run on a few times with it. Having it kicked towards him is still his biggest worry, esspecially if he doesn't know its coming.

We also did some work with the tarp, which he was suprisingly good with. He has a bit of a snort at it then walked over fine. So we moved on to dragging it next to him while he walked and throwing it over him.

Did some jumping with Death Bitch 2000, I was totally right, once you start cantering he changes... hes a hold on and steer, but it was fun and he enjoyed it.

Just warmed him up for 10mins trot and canter on a longish rein and then popped him over cross rails in trot. In trot he just pops over really sweetly, the first time I jumped him in canter he did too, but then the second time he started to get excited about it. Put up a tiny vertical, first time he was nice and calm, but knocked it down, that hyped him up and he jumped huge, he would have been pretty cool when he was young, he was suprisingly springing.

Had another go at the hoof ball and he got it too. He doesn't worry about it at all and he started to kick it properly and walk along with it, I just correct him everytime he tries to walk around it, but he didn't try to back away today. He looks like he wants to push it with his nose, but he hasn't quite worked that one out yet.

Hacked Harry right down Pukenamu rd (right to the turn off opposite the ducks), just for something different, we haven't been down there in a long time. Nice easy ride, trotted and cantered where we could, which is most of the way as theres lots of good verge. Only bit of excitment really was those 3 huge dogs that run up and down the fence line,he got a fright but he was good about it.

Did more hoof ball work with Giant and also some lunging. Warmed him up on the lunge and got him going forward, he is being so lazy at the moment, although I think part of it is that stupid thing on the end of the rope (do you mind if I take it off?), I can't swing it at him properly. Then had a go with the ball, we just started again with me kicking it and him following, then moving it all around him. Had to do a bit of work again to get him to let it touch him, but we got there and went back to lunging again.

Put him over an X to warm up, he was being super lazy, either trotting over it or just about landing on it behind. Again I chased him away from it and he got better. He is good, it that when you reward him for something he really does try to do the same thing again. Back to the ball I did lots of kicking it around him, correcting him everytime he backed off or went sideways. Got him to where I could kick the ball and bounce it off his front legs.

Put him over a bigger jump which he did nicely after chasing him the first time, when he puts some effort in he jumps in nice style. One more time back to the ball and I gave him a go at actually kicking it, first time he did it by accident and got a big fright when the ball shot out from under his nose... after that he was actually better than he is with it moving towards him. Still he just sort of did it by mistake, but just wanted to set him up that he stays straight and walks into it when I ask.

It was freezing! So got them done as fast as I could. Had to drag Giant in from the paddock, he jst looked at me like "why are you imposing this cruelty upon me??"Lol, he looked equally unimpressed when I pulled his rug off...

Did my the same with both of them, a good lunge to warm up, pole and jumps and a quick ride.

Giant has gone super calm and he took a bit to get going (could have just been the cold), got him straight into trotting to keep warm, the new rope is good, nice and long, but that thing on the end is a pain. Lots of trotting and changing rein to keep him listening, then over poles, he was being a bit lazy, trying to put an extra step inbetween, so chased him a couple of times after the poles, so that he was thinking forward and he was much better.

He was a bit the same over the jump, lazy, not picking up and nearly landing on the back of the jump. Put it up a bit to make him actually jump and again, chased him away. Chasing him away from the fence makes him think about going forward next time, where as chasing him into it could make him start rushing (never change them infront of the fence). He got better and better, jumped in better style but stayed nice and calm.

Under saddle I got him going forward, walk trot canter... especially canter. It was nicethat he wanted to give me a nice slow canter, but today I wanted him to go. He does feel better after Anne.

Harry went through the same on the lunge, he is a bit slow as he warms up, but once he loosens up hes nice and forward. He must have done many poles and jumps on the lunge in his life time... he knows the drill. Hes really nice, trots in straight and keeps his rhythm.

He was nice popping into canter, and today we worked more on quality. I got up off his back and when for a few more forward lapps of canter each way, and then practised transitions back. This is always the hard part for him when he gets a bit hyped, but after a few goes he started to settle better.

Points for hacking out...

• Never let him run home.
• If he wants to go slow make him go fast.
• If he wants to go fast make him go slow.
• Always try to ride him on a long rein, even if he wants to go fast, holding on to him will only wind him up. Slow him down, then release, slow, release, keep going until he settles. You may need to do a full transition down to get him to settle, even halting and getting him to stand still can help.
• Only make him stand for a little longer than hes happy to. If he will only stand for a second, make him stand quietly for 2 secs then reward and move off again. Build up the amount of time we will stand until he will just wait quietly.
• Don't let him speed up or slow down on his own, only when you ask him to.
• Never let him turn or drift.
• Ride in straight lines, if he drifts put him back on the line you want.
• If he so much as looks around give him a little tap on his shoulder just to remind him that turning is not an option.
• If he does turn (break these stages down so its easier): make him stop, then turn him back the way he came from (not the way he wants to go, even if its easier, so if he wants to go left make him go right) using a direct rein action and make the rein short so its easier for you and whip on his shoulder and the same time. Stop him again when hes facing the way you want, reward him and then ride forward.
• Make it really clear, turning bad, straight good.
• Breaking it down and rewarding when hes good will stop him getting wound up which will only make it worse anyway.
• Correct the little things before they get worse.
• When you do actually ask him to turn make it a nice big smooth turn, don't just let him spin around.
• If he does try and spin keep him on a nice big circle or figure eight until he settles and turns nicely.
• When riding down hills zig zag and let him take his time.
• Make it as easy as possible for him, if he wants to go slow and pause, thats fine.
• Try to give him his head to balance and then stop him as soon as he gets too fast.
• Never let him trot down, even the last few strides.
• If he needs to stop and look at something, make him walk a couple of strides (just so that hes still doing what you ask), then stop him and let him settle down, reassure him and walk off again.
• Talk to him :). Give him lots of praise, reasurance, give him rubs. Build up his confidence.

Hacked Harry out down Sims rd, haven't been that way for ages. He was good as usual, trotted and cantered down the road and then trotted most of the way back along the path between the houses and beach, just have to makesure that he doesn't get too quick on the way back, bought him back to a walk each time he wanted to go too much until he settled again. Took his cover in for fixing.

Yay, Giant was also really good! Went over the road again into the dairy farm, except this time went a different way, towards Puruaha Rd. He was so much more relaxed and didn't over react to everything. Theres really good little hills to practice on there, so took him up and down as many as I could where ever we went and then when we got to the flat paddocks we had a good trot around. Tried to get out onto the road a different way but the last paddock was a bit of a swamp so w just had to come back the same way. He was good coming home too, not too keen like he was last time.

Took Giant for a hack out to the beach, he was pretty good, as in he didn't actually do anything wrong, but I still wasn't that happy with him. He just needs to breathe and relax, he constantly feels on edge.

We walked down the road, and this part he was actually very good, thought it was going to be a great ride. But once we got to the beach he just got that edge, there were people and dogs everywhere, but he was suprisingly good with them. We trotted down the beach, through the surf, past people, no problems. But I get the feeling he would have taken advantage of you...

As we got up to the second beach access a guy in a red jacket came out, everyone else was wearing black, this one guy really caught his eye. Again he didn't really do anything, he just did that thing where he stops and looks around very intently with his head right up. Then he walked off again just fine.

On the way back he is just getting too quick and he never settles down properly. The lady walking in front on us clapped to her dog and Giant leapt, there was just no need. He was however very good when two stupid cars drove past very close and fast (you know when they're so close you can feel them?). But then again there were a few times where I stopped him and he just wouldn't stand still...

Hacked Giant down the dairy farm through the gate with the latch at the bottom. He was in a bit of a funny mood but settled down well. Then we passed where they are working on one of the power pylons and they had left a whole lot of equipment around it, while he was having his token snort at that a horse in the paddock next to us came hooning over - that set him off and he spooked and had a buck. Pulled his head up and he stopped, put was really on his toes and had his back up for a few mins, ready to jump again. He didn't though and the rest of the way was pretty uneventful. We just went down the laneways and did a few laps around the flat paddock at the end.

Gave Harry the usual warm up on a long rein, but also included canter which made things interesting. Without me helping him out he got the lead wrong which made him all flustered. But that gave us something to work on.

Came back to walk to work on his lateral work now that he was a bit hyped up. As usual this was easy doing shoulder in to the left, hard to the right cos he always throws is shoulder down and goes sideways against the right leg - but thats why shoulder in right is good for him. So worked through that and got him moving away better from the leg.

Then got a few better canter trans from him, as we came back to trot I had to make sure he didn't curl up so as soon as he took a stride of trot I quietly raised his head and put him into a shoulder in until he settled.

Put Giant on the lunge quickly to see his soundness, his leg still has a bit of filling, but he looks sound now. So jumped on and we did lots of work in walk on flexions and lateral work. He is so cool at this now, lots of fun.

Started out with flexions at halt, lifting his head and getting him to chew on both sides without dropping his head. Then shoulder in on straight lines, focsing on flexion and getting him to soften, halting and flexing if he set against me a bit. And then the same work on circles.

Travers on straight lines, he was better today, not trying to move against my leg. And his new favourite, half pass. He thinks hes so smart doing this, so I sort of have to make sure he doesn't do too much, just keeping him on shallow angles.

Had his first little go at travers in trot, keeping it really slow, going sitting trot and just getting a few strides moving his quarters over to give himthe idea.

Giants leg was still pretty much the same as yesterday, so instead of riding him I took him for a walk off Harry to the beach, they really enjoy going together like that, Harry is always much calmer. So just went for a walk to the beach and a splash in the sea for Giant's leg. Shortest post ever.

Giant came in with his off hind really swollen and a small cut on the inside of his cannon, about half way down. Not really any heat in it but hes a bit impish on it so I just hosed it for ten and put him back out. Don't know how he did it, theres nothing out in the paddock where he is, but its not too bad. Hopefully he'll be good enough tomorrow to do Harry's drill and walk to the beach and put it in the sea. I think the lumps on his back may have gone down a little bit? Its really hard to tell, so obviously they haven't changed much anyway.

Hacked Harry out to the beach again, cos we're having the most amasing weather, this is how autumn should be! Cantered down the beach to the pink stump, took me a few mins to find it, but eventually we got onto the path that leads through the new beach developments (haven't done the loop backwards before). Trotted back through the developments and then walked home, that was quite a it of work for him.

Hacked Giant out down Harakeke Rd, it was such a beautiful still day, (the first t-shirt day we've had in ages :D) so the thing on the road that scared him last time wasn't a problem, we trotted straight down all the nice verges, walked down the new road and then up the hill. They are starting to put in driveways to new sections and the fence that was there is down, so we went for an explore.

Giant isn't the best choice of horse for riding through a forest! Hes much too tall, which made it a little more difficult, but we still had a nice ride, just had to be really careful going down the hills, that he didn't run down under the trees, but he was pretty good with that. We couldn't really go too far, the fences into the paddocks are still up, but was a good ride anyway.

Gave Harry a good warm up in nice big circles, I think I said last time that being older he takes longer to warm up than the others, and I don't think the cold helps him, even today when it was warmer he still feels it. So a couple of laps walk, then trotting lots of big circles and shapes on a longish rein until he feels good.

Then back to walk to practise our shoulder in, he was better today, stepping away from the leg rather than getting faster and his flexion was better, although the can't hold it for very long. Over trotting poles he was really good, suprisingly careful (I thought he might trip a bit). These will be good for strengthening him a bit and hopefully help with his tripping. Just have to be careful with him that he doesn't change his rhythm on the approach, he wants to quicken, I know his type...

Hes very good over the little cross rail, just trots down and pops over, he will be good for you to have a practise on. His first canter trans is always so good, before hes had a chance to think about it. Although the other ones weren't as tension free, he still got it right much more easily. Interestingly he prefers to land from the jump on his difficult lead.

Well the fine weather has broken, there is snow everywhere and the whole country is freezing! I swear it snowed on me yesterday!

So hacked Harry out to the beach and kept moving on quickly to keep warm. Trotted all the places we could and then down the street to the end beach entry. Cantered down to the pink stump and then trotted back down to the beach through the water to the normal exit with a storm chasing us...

Was much more sheltered once we got off the beach again so we just walked back (he had worked quite hard) and managed not to get wet. He's dropped a bit of weight again so I'm trying to get lots of grass and hay into him.

Had a great ride on Giant today, he was really good. Started lunging him as the sun was going down, it turned the air a thick pink and there was a huge rainbow over us, very cool. Warmed him up over poles again, he was getting a bit excited so made sure he stayed steady and straight, then practised our changes of rein again, getting them soother, he tends to spin around then snort and run off the other way, we got to were he was too slow, but thats better, atleast he was calm.

Then over a small cross rail, again he got a bit excited so lunged him right next to it so he didn't know when he was going over it and he did it great. Put it up to a little vertical and he jumped that well too, he has really nice style, I wanted to go higher but the ground is too slippery, I don't want to scare him.

Got on and went through some flexions at a halt, just getting him chewing softly. He actually chews better to the left, although hes not as straight in the poll that way. Basic travers is good now so I turned it into a half pass (same positioning but moving away from the leg differently). I think half pass is his new favourite, he thinks hes rather clever. To the left he just finds the flexion hard, to the right the flexion is easy but have to watch that he doesn't want to get too much sideways.

Into canter just practised some trans forwards and back, something he still finds hard, he wants me to do it for him rather than carry himself. Then some lengthened strides in trot, this isn't natural for him (its bred into the WBs, but I don't like that) so it takes some developing, but he actually lengthens his stride out now rather than just running faster. Then when I bring him back his stride gains more cadence. Stretching out is still his hardest thing, he wants to do it after some work but is always inclined to want to curl.

Took advantage of the nice day and took Giant on a long hack out down Puruaha Rd, had a bit of a fuss when the dogs on both sides of the rode came running up to their gates barking, but thats not really his fault, no horse would like that. Trotted down the bridlepath next to the road and took the left hand road. A few weeks ago I took Harry through to the beach but they way I went is now blocked off. But the girls told me a new way, so we went down Lot 12, which is a nice ride, you go through sand dunes, then across a landing strip, more sand dunes and out to the beach. Trotted back up the beach and came home the normal way down the road. Just have to make sure he doesn't try and get too fast on the way home, hes never going to take off lol, he just gets a bit quick and its part of his turning thing.

Had the vet out for Giants lumps, she said they are probably some sort of localised reaction, but she doesn't know what too. Perhaps saddle pad, washing powder (although none of this has changed), could be environmental. She gave him two shots which should help to bring them down within a week. If not, or if they come back there is another shot I can go and get him, then we get into biopsys and stuff, but hopefully what she gave him will work.

Harry was still a bit stiff but heaps better, so I took him for a stroll to the beach and a splash in the water. The walk stretched him out well and he was feeling better on the way back than the way there.

Jumps got here! Hauled them all down to the paddock a set up for tomorrow. They will need priming and painting at some point so they don't rot, they are untreated.

Don't know what Harry was upto last night, but this morning he had a broken leg strap and belly strap and his rug was all twisted around him. Not a mark on him but hes a bit sore behind. Started to ride him, he looked and felt fine in walk, but when we trotted off he was all wonky feeling. Not much I can do for that, hopefully tomorrow he'll be good enough to take him for a walk out.

Continued with Giants lateral work, he seems to rather enjoy it all, wants to do altogether too much lol. Had to watch his 1/4s in shoulder in on a straight line, he kept wanting to stick his bum out and pretty much go full side ways, instead of flexing and crossing over nicely, just have to make sure hes respecting the leg and doesn't push through the outside. On to travers now, he gets it, it just a matter of quality as with the shoulder in, although I don't ask him for more than 10 steps at a time, he can't hold it yet. We also just need to sort the aids out more and make sure he doesn't swing his quarters into my leg.

Had a go at travers on a circle, which is harder than a straight line, but he was pretty good. Strangely he is now better to the left than the right, perhaps I have just worked on it more.

I want him now to chew more softly on the bit, he still does big grinding chews where he lifts the bit right up. I want him to chew more quietly and consistantly and just let the bit hang in his mouth. This will help him free up more in the poll and be able to stretch out. So we did some work on flexions just at a halt again and will work more on them

Headed off to the beach with Giant, he was in a bit of a funny mood, tried his turny thing which he doesn't normally do with me. School bus came down the road so I ducked into a paddock just before the house with the toi toi all around it. He seemed to really wanted to go around this paddock, but there was a swamp that I didn't really want to cross, this is where he turned the first time.

Further up the road there was a random dead bush up against the fence from all the wind we had in the weekend. BUSH !! Big sissy girl wanted to turn around and go home. But after that he was good, the gates into the dairy farm paddocks next to the creek were open so we went in there instead of the beach and went for a cruise around. He seemed to like this idea, we walked along the creek and then trotted and cantered a few laps around the paddocks.

Took Harry out in the same direction, we went through the same gate but then instead of going along the creek we went up and rode along the back of the houses, did pretty much the same as with Giant, just cruised and went for a trot and canter around the paddocks. He got a little bit hyped after canter but settled back down again after a walk trying to find a way out onto the road between the houses, theres not one...

Amazing how a beautiful day makes work so easy! Finally it was nice enough to take everyones rugs off and let them have a scratch and a roll, they really went to town lol.

With Giant today I focused mainly on lateral work and establishing a few steps of proper travers. So we warmed up just in walk going through our shoulder in exercises, and getting him to really flex and chew a bit softer within them. He finds the angle easy now, its the flexion thats the hard part and when he does flex and soften nicely he crosses over much better.

I started with left travers, the way that was going to be harder as I know I will work harder and longer on the first way. I started him the same as last time, in right shoulder in (so that his quaters would be left) and then straightening him out and finally asking for slight flexion right, this gave him the basic idea.

Once he had that I went straight into travers from a corner (by not quite finishing the corner he s already in a travers position). Keeping him really slow so that he could sort himself out step by step he got the idea of it and by then end we were able to get a few really nice crossing over steps on both reins. He was quite funny, I could see him really thinking and concentrating on where he had to put his feet, he was trying really hard.

With Harry I wanted to work on improving the quality of the shoulder in. Like Giant he is ok with the angle, but he really does find stepping across hard, he is quite stiff behind. So I broke it down again and got him walking really slowly so that he could take it one step at a time. This is the part thats good for him, getting him to step quietly away from the leg without going faster. Especially on the right rein he just wants to move off faster and turn in the direct of the bend. Keeping it slow and using a combination of neck reins and leg he got it much better.

We did a bit of his canter as well and for the first time he got it right everytime. First time he did it great without thinking, after that he knew what was coming and was thinking about it so it took him longer, but he got it. Everytime we came back to trot I just give him time to relax and stretch before I ask him for canter again so that he doesn't get all flustered.

Finally a half decent day today! Still cold, but atleast it wasn't the hurricane we had yesterday... The electric fence came down (lucky it wasn't turned on) and Giant was stuck in a corner, "trapped" by a tape lying on the ground, was actually quite amusing, look as if there was a force field around him from a distance lol.

Took Harry for a hack up Harakeke Rd where I took Giant the other day, he was good with the thing on the side of the road, looked, but didn't do anything. We trotted along all the verges thenwent up one of the new drive ways (before the road that goes up the hill) at the top the fence had come down so I stepped him over the wire (which he wasn't too keen on) and we went through the trees, was really nice under there, then came out in one of the dairy farm paddocks, went for a tour around the hills, then back home via the road.

Giant went for a hack down Puruaha Rd (leads to the new beach development). Nothing overly exciting happened really lol, he got a bit of a fright when about 20 ducks flew out of one of the ponds, but appart from that he was really good. We trotted down the walking track and went for a bit of an explore around a couple of the first properties.

Another freezing day, so just jumped on Giant and got him moving and warmed up, lots of forward work, but he was really good in the cold today, nice and relaxed. Once we were both reasonably warm I wanted to work on some new lateral movements, so in walk we started on our shoulder in square, he does this really nicely now, both ways, although it can be slightly more difficult to the left cos thats the way hes stiffer flexing to. Then rather than just doing a fairly rounded corner in shoulder in I asked him for a 1/4 shoulder in priouette, straight away he did it really well, I just had to get him to step around a bit slower, he did some nice 1/2 SI pirouettes too.

Doing pirouettes (I'm sure you're picturing Giant in a tutu...) lead well into learning travers (in the piroette he had to move in the direction of the bend), I started this a few weeks ago but he didn't really get it so I left it for a while. Today we got the start of it, he understood what I wanted, I just put him in shoulder in on a straight line and then changed the flexion so that he was moving into the bend rather than away from it. This was more difficult to the left but he still got it.

Changed Harry's bit today, thought he might like the weird leather bit I got from HOY and never used... and he did seem to really like it, he was calmer (not so worried about his mouth) and steadier in his carriage. I think I've written about the scarring in his mouth, I wouldn't be suprised if he has bone spurs along the bars of his mouth, in which case the soft leather would be much more comfortable tha the metal. He was a star, we just went through suppling exercises in walk - shoulder in on a circle, then on a square. For him I straighten him out before the turn as he still isn't so good from a neck rein. Worked on a little bit of slow trot shoulder in and then up into canter. Usually to make it easier for him I canter on the good lead then switch and ride just to the right. Today I kept changing direction so that he had to think about what I was asking for, he was good, just set him up and gave him time to think about it, still got it wrong a few times, but when he got it right the trans was much more flowing.

Another excitingly windy and freezing cold day! I'd better face it, winter is here :? :(.

Took Giant for a hack down Harakeke Rd (the new one to the left over the bridge) he was being really good despite the wind and we went for a trot up the road... except that around the corner there was a thing on the side of the road all taped off, lots of flapping plastic. Stop dead, snort, spin, fuss around. Lots of fun there, but I think he really did just get a fright from it, he was being a drama princess but once I got him past it he was good again. They've done a lot of development on the road and I just rode straight down the middle of it, they've also made a few drive ways up and down the hill so we went up there and then for a good long trot down the road. He was pretty good coming back past the thing on the side of the road, got on his toes a bit but didn't do anything.

Much less exciting ride on Harry (thankfully lol), I was going to take him to the beach but he seemed to want to go over the bridge so we went to the main road instead, hes so cruisey hacking out most of the time now (hes back in a halter too), we just walked and trotted to the highway and back again.

Wow, yesterday might have been a storm, but it was still pretty warm. Today its turned around and there is what a southerly! There is more snow on the mountains than I've seen, its freezing and windy, when that hits you you know that you're alive - the horses are all feeling it!

So again, I lunged Giant before getting on, he went off! Had a good buck when that wind hit him, then settled so I jumped on, just lunged him to let him get that back out, we both knew he needed it :P. Did our usual warm up of just moving forward at w/t/c encouraging him to stretch out, he is getting it now, I just have to be careful that he doesn't curl up, getting him to stretch forwards is the hard part, he wants to come back at you.

Really pleased with his canter today, he remembered what we did last time really well, slowed his canter right down on a smaller circle, he was much lighter infront, not relying on me so much and he waited for me then dropped into walk when I asked, although he did few have a few walk strides, but thats fine, canter to walk is hard and he knew what I wanted just rom doing it a couple of times last ride.

Took his canter out on lots of different shapes, large around the paddock, circles, loops and counter canter. He is feeling so much more balanced and strong, he still needs some help to keep it at times, but he is doing all that well. Just today he was a bit funny picking up the left lead canter, he got it wrong quite a few times which he doesn't normally do.

Gave Harry the same warm up as Giant, he was a little bit stiff and tense in the cold, we just took our time and he came really nice. Really nice shoulder in in walk, now working on trot shoulder in which he finds harder, so just asking for flexion with a shallow angle, keeping the trot really slow, which in itself is hard for him to keep a proper trot rhythm, but hes trying hard.

Popped into canter on the left (the good one) lead, and did a few trans up and down from it encouraging him to stretch at trot afterwards so that he relaxes, and he was much better at it, he was looking for the stretch straight away.

On the right lead now he just needs that time to sort himself out, then he gets it right, hes really tying, thinking a lot more and not getting wound up. He was good, looking for his stretch on this rein too, but still showing a bit of tension by falling onto the inside shoulder and flexingto the outside. If I just give him a walk for a mo hes much better.

What a crazy but awesome day weather wise! Gave Giant a bit of a lunge after his days off, but he was fine, those lumps are still there though, they don't seem to worry himbut I don't really know what there are, have just washed all the saddle cloths incase its that. After lunging we went to the beach. It was one of those really dark stormy days, pouring out over the ocean, island gone. Tide was out though so we went for a trot and canter down the beach, hes being really good, hasn't done any of his turning stuff. Turned round and trotted him through the water on the way back, then we got a bit of a move on as the storm started to roll in and cantered back, it started to spit but we got back before it really came down.

Wasn't so lucky with Harry, we headed out in a break in the weather, was going to take him around the Sims Rd loop, but we didn't quite make it that far. Trotted up Sims Rd, and hes feeling nice and sound now and not tripping so much since hes had his feet done. Infact he was feeling a bit too good, had to watch that he didn't get too fast. Before we got quite to the end of the road it started to spit again with those really big heavy drops... We turned round and trotted back, but by the time we got to the bridge the storm was on us. He wanted to go a bit sideways with his bum into the rain, but can't blame him, so did I! Very wet, but pretty cool weather.

Took Harry and Giant to the farrier today although was just about to postpone, we had the heaviest rain this morning! Would have filled the tank up in 5mins lol. But this afternoon came out nice and we had a fun ride. They ride and lead well together now, Giant just trundles along and it seems to calm Harry down. We had a bit of fun when they saw the Yaks, they weren't really scared, they were just being silly together. Then there was an Emu. Lucky they didn't see that...

Giant was a bit worried and snorty about going into the forge but Harry was fine and it was good for him to do something different.

Harry's leg was good today, still a bit of filling but he felt fine. Giant has some strange new lumps on his back, not like the ones hes had before, they're quite big, sort of at the back of where the saddle sits.

Do you want to play hoofball? Gavin is setting up a day with a demo where we can take our horses and have a go, sounds really fun, I'm going to take Mate. Theres a bit about hoofball here http://www.hobbyhorse.co.nz/

Harry - still a bit sore on his leg, pretty good in walk but short in trot. Theres some heat and swelling in it so I took him for a quiet walk to the beach and a walk in the water. His leg looked better after the walk so hopefully he'll be ok to go to the farrier tomorrow.

Giant - warmed up again with asking him to stretch out, worked on a big figure eight as the change of rein helps him soften and he was a bit better at giving on the left rein today. Then went into a slow sitting trot shoulder in on the circle, easy on the right rein, hard on the left. I had the trot really slow and then just ask for that bit softer flexion, at that point he just wants to stop lol, but when pushed through it he improved.

He does really nice walk to canter trans now, and today we started to work on canter to walk (much harder). Only did a couple on each rein, concentrating more on preparing the canter, collecting him in shoulder in on a small circle and then dropping into walk. This was a good exercise for him, cantering in shoulder in helped him because he could still take a bigger step behind and it was a little easier to keep him light infront. He had some trot strides in the trans but that was a good start.

Harry - there was a big crash when I was brushing Ra and there was Harry with his legs in the fence... He must have been leaning over the way he does and the fence broke a bit more and he fell into it, got his legs stuck and pulled his way out of it. Bought him in and hes sore on his left fore and theres a bit of a cut on it, but nothing serious. Gave him a cold hose for 10mins and I'll see how he is in the morning.

Giant - took him for a hack to the beach, I haven't ridden him there for a while, just lead him off Harry the other day. He was good, didn't try to do any of his turning. The tide was right in so I took him through the streets so we didn't have to go over the rocks and then there was a pretty good bit of beach right up next to the sand dunes. Trotted and cantered him all the way down to the blue post (they put a marker in at the Te Hapua Rd access), gave him a break walking halfway back and then trotted and cantered again. I wanted to try and get him to go fast but the beach was too cluttered, but he was nice and forward and quite happy to go.

Giant - warmed him up on lunge again, practicing lots of walk/trot trans to really get his listening and reacting quickly. Didn't bother with canter, he was being good.

Undersaddle warmed up with lots of trans just on a loose rein, walk/trot, trot/walk, walk/canter, to try and get him to reach for the rein a bit himself, he was good in the trans, but he needs direction to reach into the rein. Picked him up in trot and took him into a slow sitting trot and did shoulder in on a circle and then on the square with turns remaining in SI, just concentrating on weight and outside neck rein to direct him (weight in outside seat bone for straight SI, inside for turn), he does this nicely. Did lots of changes of direction and went rising forward trot every few square encouraging him to stretch out (hes more enclined to want to after he thinks hes worked hard).

Had a go at the same exercise in canter, that is hard for him, so just did a couple of squares each way and moved on... to something just as hard for him. Counter flexed canter with a sort of leg yeild attitude, hard but good for him, and he tried pretty hard.

Harry - hacked out to beach, was amazing down there, really calm, water like molten silver. Really nice ride, went for a good splash then a canter a bit past the pink stump. He did his usual where he starts on the left lead and then changes to the right when he gets tired. But he was nice and easy to control and we just trotted on the way back home, making sure he didn't get too fast.

Walked back through the streets, it was that nice time of night when its getting dark and all the street lights go on. He was good walking back in the semi-dark, didn't worry him at all.

Giant - hacked out to the forge on the main road, he was a really good boy. There was a rather strange lady that keeps her horses there, she was setting up electric tape on the side of the road for her horse and she started talking to me, Giant had his usual snort, but luckily I had some licorice in my pocket which I gave her to feed him so he liked her a bit better after that lol. Then there were the yaks (highland cattle, but yaks are so much better) that where hiding behind a bush to scare him, he went to spin around and go home but I caught him and he was pretty good going past them. We trotted where we could, which was a bit hard cos everyone seems to be grazing the side of the road.

Harry - hacked down new road (the one that goes through the pine forest, except that we just kept going straight), not half as exciting as Giants ride, nothing really happened at all lol, we just trotted most of the way there on the good verge, had to walk where they are doing the new road though. He is tripping a bit, hopefully getting his feet done on friday will help him. I did his back feet when we got home, the left one was quite a bit longer on the inside, so rebalancing that up may help him a bit with how he feels a bit stiff behind.

Oh and the jump stands arrived today, they look good :). No poles to put on them though...

Giant - freezing cold and windy day so I gave him a lunge first to make sure he was well warmed up. Just aswell too, he seemed fine for a while, started on the right rein and he w/t/c really nicely, over on the left rein though I asked him into canter and he went into a bucking fit... took a few minutes to get him to settle down properly, but then he was good.

Today focused mainly on getting him to stretch forward down and out. So in walk (where fdo is easy) I started him off using flexions to each side to get him to soften and chew and then offering the rein so that he "chews the rein forwards". Then we went on to do the same in trot, just doing lots of big circles and serpentines encouraging him to go fdo. Little by little we get there.

He finds it harder to soften properly flexing to the left. To the right he chews quite nicely, left he still wants to tilt his head a bit and do this big grinding on the bit so I was trying to ride him through that a bit. We also did the same in canter, again, to the right he does well and was having a little go at stretching out, to the right he finds it more difficult and wanted to turn on a small circle rather than flex properly, but getting him to soften a couple of times helped him when we came back to a trot, he stretched out a bit more than before.

Harry - We worked on the samething as with Giant, he gets it quite well when he is relaxed, and when he isn't its a good way to help him relax. We did some canter on the left lead (the good one) where I lengthened his frame in trot a bit, asked him to canter and then tried to maintain that frame in canter. This is difficult for him, in canter he just wants to lean and get fast, but he improved. After the trans back to canter I got him to stretch out even more to get him to relax.

On the right rein he worries about the lead and gets himself all flustered, so everytime he got like this I got him to stretch out a bit and waited for him to settle before we tried canter again. Usually now he just needs time to get himself organised and thinking about what hes doing, like a right handed person writing with their left hand it seems to take a lot of concentration for him to get it. We ended with a couple of nice trans where he came back to a trot and allowed me to flex him better and just settled.

Yikes, has it been that long already? Its been chucking it down the last couple of days so I gave them their days off. The place is under water, haven't seen it so wet before! Today was beautiful though and they were feeling it, or Giant was anyway. It was still too wet to do anything here, so I took them out hacking again.

Harry and Giant - took them both out togther again so I could burn off some of Giants silliness before I rode him lol. We were going to go to the beach but the tide was right in so we went down Sims Rd instead. Once we got to the wide verge we trotted al the way to the end and back. Pretty uneventful really, Harry wanted to get a bit fast but I just stopped him a few times and got him to settle in walk then we trotted off again. Giant seems to quite enjoy going out with Harry like this.

Giant - hacked Giant out down the new developments at the beach (go left out of driveway then right down the road with all the toi toi). He is nice after going out with Harry, he was being much better today, there was only one time where I have to go between two places that have dogs that come running down at you from both sides where he got a bit worried, but can't blame him for that. We trotted down the path next to the road and went exploring some of the development sites. Good ride, helped to have a nice sunny day for a change :).

Mail: 2 from IRD for Mobius films, 1 from Telecom and 1 from Genesis energy.
Problem - Doesn't seem to be any gas in kitchen...
Put a latch on front door.

Harry and Giant - next week I will take both of them up to the fordge to have their feet done so today we had a practice riding Harry and leading Giant. Harry was really good, he didn't worry at all, infact he was probably better that usual. Giant didn't understand at first, he kept dragging and getting stuck behind Harry, but once he understood where he should be he wass good.

We went to the beach, on the grass just before the beach there was a guy cutting grass, who was apparently very frightening (to Giant). We went for a trot down the beach which took a bit of sorting out but we got there. On the way back Giant was much better passing the grass guy.

Giant - fed and put Harry out when we got back and then took Giant on his own hack, we went back to the beach to go and see his grass man but he was gone, we went through the creek and up the path between the houses and beach, trotting all the way once we got off the stones. Then came back down Sims Rd. Appart from a bit of a look at the bridge (hes been a bit funny about it since there was someone camping under it one time) he was really good after his lead out with Harry.

Harry - warmed him up with suppling exercises, shoulder in on straight lines, he still finds it hard to really flex and step across, he always wants to just step forwards out of it. Then shoulder in on a square, except that I straightened him before the the turn so that he didn't step ot of it. Got him turning away from a neck rein better.

Getting him to settle and stretch out in trot, he gets quite tight and I just want him to lengthen his neck a little and relax his stride, then practicing keeping the correct bend and turning from the neck rein.

Worked on getting nicer transitions to and from canter now, he got it first time, then when we came back to trot he started his head up pacing/half cantering on the wrong lead that he gets into when he panics. So I spent sometime getting him back to a half decent trot before each transition. When hes nice and calm I can set him up right then touch him with the whip behind my leg on the inside and he usualy gets it right. Staying off his back in canter at the mo to make it easier for him but also starting to shape his canter a bit more.

Giant - took him out on the same hack as last time, except the other way around, we started through the gate ust over the road here. Horrible cold windy rainy weather, so he was a bit on his toes and jumpy, gave him a quite lunge in walk and trot before we started out to makesure he wansn't going to buck me off lol. But no big dramas.

Had a bit of a snort at the cows and then did a few laps of trot and canter around one of the flatter paddocks, getting him to stretch out his stride, although had to be a bit careful as it was quite slippery. Big tractor was parked in one of the paddocks, that was fun, he kept snorting and wanting to spin away when we got up close, but again, nothing too major, he was just putting on a show. Walked back down the road nicely and was good when a bus passed in the same place as the tractor the other day.

Harry - stumbling and tripping quite a lot today, I think all the canter work has been quite hard on him, but now that we have got through that psycological barrier it should be much less hard work (for us both). So we went for a nice long but cruisey hack to the main road. Had a bit of a trot, really just letting him stretch out.

Giant - redeemed himself somewhat. Warmed him up on the lunge just to make sure after yesterday, but he was really good. He goes great on the lunge now, I don't have to nag him all the time and he canters easily (although I still wouldn't do it when its slippery).

Started under saddle with shoulder in on a square in walk (like on PK DVD), he did this beautifully to the right, more difficult to the left (this is the way that he wants to fall out through the shoulder all the time, so making him turn in shoulder in is really good for him. We did the same in counter shoulder in as well, even when he was in counter shoulder in (SI to the right) he found it more difficult to turn right.

Straight onto canter, we went back and practiced riding on in forward canter and lengthening out the srtide and then collecting him back again. He is now a lot better at this, he finds it much easier than he used to showing that he is stronger behind and more able to sit and step under himself. We did a sort of stretched out figure eight so it was straight in the middle and did canter trot canter changes again. He got it really well, we trotted as we came onto the straight did about 5 strides change flexion and then on into canter again as we turned, got it right everytime.

Finished off with asking him to stretch out in trot, again, all I can to is suggest what I want and encourage him in the right direction.

Giant - Idiot. Took him for a hack out to the beach, headed down the road and the was good, then a big tractor down the road, I turned him round and we were in next to that house with the flash garden so he had lots of space. He was fine while it past and then as soon as it was right past us he freaked out and went into one of his bucking fits. All good until he headed for the tarmac and I decided to abort mission. Better to land on my feet. Don't worry I was wearing my helmet :).

Got off the road after that, the gate next to the bridge was open so we went across the dairy farm paddocks. He was on best behavior, certainly wasn't getting away with anything... did safety stops for any little thing he even looked at. Interestingly hes much better at bending around than he used to be which is good.

Harry - he got it :). We just did 10mins in the paddock to reinforce what we did yesterday, he picked the lead up 3 times in a row, didn't get it wrong (through it is difficult for him), so we finished up and I took him to the beach. He was great hacking out, think he enjoyed the change of scene. Walked out there, went for a trot to the pink stump, a splash in the sea and then walked back through the streets.

Giant - warmed up on big circles encourging him to stretch fdo in trot, he understands the attitude of what I'm asking him, but hasn't yet actually done it, although a few times hes tried. This can take a while to do properly, its easy to manipulate them to putting their head down, not so easy to get them to willingly stretch forwards and they have to physically ready for it so they don't just fall on their shoulders and drop in the withers. He'll get there, I think it will be his favourite thing lol.

Then we worked on getting his downwards trans from canter to trot better, slowing the canter, waiting and then rising into trot, so that I could introduce canter lead changes through trot. Firstly we just went on a circle and did canter trot canter trans, then used a figure of eight to get him to pick up the other lead. We started by doing about 10 strides and got it down to 5, he was good, he only got it wrong once.

Eventually he will do only 3 trot strides on a straight line. And then through walk...

Harry - Only working on that canter now, after a quick warm up we started. He got the lead 3rd or 4th time and I thought we had finally got there. Apparently not. After another 30 or so he didn't get it again. So I made it a bit more clear, everytime he struck off wrong I halted him and backed up, then waited in halt for a second for him to settle, and started again.

It took a bit, but finally the penny seemed to drop. He got the right lead again, and then again a few minutes later and then to end with he finally got it 3 times in a row. Sometimes he pops onto it easily, I think this is when he does it by accident so it sort of doesn't help in training him to do it. Usually its very difficult and takes half a circle of coaxing before he can pick it up, but when he does get it the canters fine. I think its all in his head, perhaps he has had an injury at some point (hes uneven behind) which prevented him from doing it and that has stuck even though he can do it now. It would have been way too difficult for them to fix in the riding school.

Harry - introduced him to shoulder in on a circle, which he did pretty well. He didn't really understand counter shoulder in, needs more work on turning on from a neck rein straight and in a counter flexion. He did some nice calm walk and trot work and did some left canter to get him happy in canter as he tends to get quite wound up once we start, then went to the right. Set him up in the right balance and flexion and then pushed him forwards until he rolled into canter, still only got about 4 of 100 strike offs, he hasn't understood yet. But rolling him into it did keep him a bit calmer, atleast he didn't go into his pacing and boucing on the spot so much. When he gets the lead it actually feels better than going the other way, its just th strike off.

Giant - hacked out over dairy farm from Pukenamu Rd. The horses next to the lane way all cantered over to him but he was really good, although he did spook at a random pile of junk in where those cars are. Gates at end of lane way were shut so went into one of the other paddocks and practiced hills with him, getting him to walk and trot up and walk down on a loose rein.