Thank you sarah. It’s been beautiful to see you two grow so close together. 💕

I was aware that my current horse (who I have now owned for five and a half years) was the most spookiest horse out on my rides that I have ever owned. When discussing this was someone she said she reckoned that my subconcious fear of falling off again ( I got dumped in the first Spring I had her after a summer drought) was feeding her anxiety. She had been very looky even when in the first 9 months I had her, but I realised was probably still truth in what she said. I also ride mainly bareback, so one is a little more vulnerable if there is an incident. I have had a lot of near fall off's due to her shying at something. I was reminded that before I got dumped in the paddock there would been a lot of little warning signs that I had not heeded.

Doing Teddies courses have helped as I have learned to listen to my horse. I don't get on if she seems all over the place. A few times lately I did happen to jump on against my better judgement and there were incidents because of it.

My focus has been a lot less on riding and more on hanging out and connecting and it has been a wonderful journey. The last time I floated her out a beach half an hour's drive away, she took me for a walk down the beach. I did try getting on at one point but she didn't want me to so I didn't. We kept on walking. I have experimented lately with taking her off the lead down our local beach and park quiet and seeing if she stays near by. She does. Recently I picked up her deposit of pooh on the beach. She didn't want to come with me to the side of the beach where I could deposit it into the trees/bushes, so I flung the leadrope around her neck and said, ok. You stay there and I will go and dispose of your pooh. I had no idea whether she would continue walking down the beach or take off. As I moved to the side I watched her take two steps, then stop. She waited for me to come back. I was out of sight for a short time. I was stoked.

I am trying to work out why she doesn't want to get back on the float when we are heading back from somewhere which has been an ongoing issue, unless she is really hungry as I always put food on the float. (Take the easy option as Teddie would say :)). I have an old 1975, one and a half float. Tomorrow I hope to borrow a friend's one to take her to a beach which is a double float. I am going to see if there is any difference in her behaviour. My friend's float is up for sale at the end of the year so it could work out quite nicely. We shall see. 🙂

That has been really fun.