Three more sleeps..............
I am on my countdown to the championships! Only three more days until we go. Had a lesson this morning and we stayed away from the 'new scary' stuff and stuck to what we (HE!!) Knows. He was great and a pleasure to ride. His trot was just effortless and I just had to sit still and just give him the odd little niggle if he started to drop the contact. He was fab. Bouncy, engaged, forward going. His canter is still a little heavy on the upward transitions but so so much improved on what it was even a few weeks ago. His conformation makes it easier for him to fall through his shoulders when transitioning but he is much lighter than he used to be. Jo was really really pleased with him and gave him many compliments which of course he loved.
In other news, we are having to split George's field up for the winter because he is starting to bully one of the low-order horses.
The problem is that George is second in command in the field after his best mate Magnum and he is so attatched to Mags that he really doesn't like anyone else near him. Anyway, most of the horses respect George's place in the herd but the little paso-fino just doesn't get it.
Poor Domingo, because he wouldn't hurt a fly but yesterday George trapped him in a corner and wouldn't let him out because Mags was close by. At one point he double barrelled him and Jo thought he'd broken Domingo's leg. Luckily, no harm done other than a bruise (no lameness after the initial OWIE!! Moment) but clearly this can't be allowed to escalate.
So George and Mags are being split up and the herd divided between them. In this way George will be able to be proper alpha horse and no one will get hurt.
He is getting his 'original' field mates who he has known (and dominated) for the last three years and Mags will get the 'softer' more pliable horses. (Mags is a fairly arthritic 17 and just doesn't need the drama!)
It's sad they are being split but Jo is putting them in adjacent fields so the can still groom and chat over the fence. Hopefully, all will be well. I am always grateful that we have a yard manager who is prepared to take action rather than allow the horses to get hurt and I always go with her advice. The downside is that one of the fields will now not be rested this winter but it will only be George pluis three others in six acres so hopefully it will sustain ok.
Ahhhhhh horses! So complicated!
In other news, we are having to split George's field up for the winter because he is starting to bully one of the low-order horses.
The problem is that George is second in command in the field after his best mate Magnum and he is so attatched to Mags that he really doesn't like anyone else near him. Anyway, most of the horses respect George's place in the herd but the little paso-fino just doesn't get it.
Poor Domingo, because he wouldn't hurt a fly but yesterday George trapped him in a corner and wouldn't let him out because Mags was close by. At one point he double barrelled him and Jo thought he'd broken Domingo's leg. Luckily, no harm done other than a bruise (no lameness after the initial OWIE!! Moment) but clearly this can't be allowed to escalate.
So George and Mags are being split up and the herd divided between them. In this way George will be able to be proper alpha horse and no one will get hurt.
He is getting his 'original' field mates who he has known (and dominated) for the last three years and Mags will get the 'softer' more pliable horses. (Mags is a fairly arthritic 17 and just doesn't need the drama!)
It's sad they are being split but Jo is putting them in adjacent fields so the can still groom and chat over the fence. Hopefully, all will be well. I am always grateful that we have a yard manager who is prepared to take action rather than allow the horses to get hurt and I always go with her advice. The downside is that one of the fields will now not be rested this winter but it will only be George pluis three others in six acres so hopefully it will sustain ok.
Ahhhhhh horses! So complicated!