The End

Well, this is my last post for this blog. As of 10:30 this morning there is no Lily and Banjo, or Banjo and Lily. I never thought i would actually sell him, but now that i have, i'm glad that he is going to a better home.

The lady came yesterday and RODE him. First time in over a year now, and he was pretty good. He didn't buck, but thought about it. The best part was seeing him, gallop and kick around after i let him go in the paddock again, he must of enjoyed the ride. That just makes me feel bad because all i did was lock him up. I will miss him, but i know that he will get the attention he deserves.

The hardest part is deciding whether or not it is worth me getting another horse, i really don't see the point, as this the second horse i've had that i sold on. I really, really, really want to ride and own a horse, but i'm just too gutless to ride, so i figure there isn't much point. I'll keep thinking about it though.

So goodbye for now, hopefully not forever.

Lily.

Avoiding Homework!!

I went and caught Banjo again today, and had way more fun then doing my homework (which i still haven't done.) lol.

Well..... he was a dream to catch, and he stood perfectly still while i worked out the ropes. I have no idea how i manage to tangle everything up so easy. I led him around again, and he was excellent, until.... until we went away from where i feed him, and down to the paddock. He just dead stopped, so in a circle we went. I think it took about 5 circles to get a metre. Hopefully i can find some time to work on that more, i doubt it though. After he over come the fact that he lost, Dad started welding! & he reacted like you would expect any horse to, but i kept him under control. I let him look at it for abit then went back behind the shed so he couldn't see it. And i finished it off with a good brush, which ended up with me covered in more hair then him!!!

Lily.

Moving Forward

I can't decide what to title this, so i'll leave it blank for now...

Finally, i am moving forward, but 'm still not sure if i'm making a mistake selling Banjo or not. I want to ride sooooooooooo much, but i'm completely unsure if selling Banjo and getting another horse is a waste of time or not. But i'm willing to try and see, this is the one thing i am not going to give up so easy on.

I had one of my impulse moments today, and ended up catching Banjo, - this is like the first time in a long time he's worn a halter. He even waited patiently for me to untangle the mess i made with the halter and lead. I seem to be in the habit (somehow) or leading him before i do anything else with him. Once again we had a little argument, but that was easy fixed after a couple of circles. He lifted his feet like a dream, well the front ones anyway, i haven't got the confidence to handle his back feet much. i spent about 20 minutes trying to get some of his winter coat off, but the more time i spent on it the more hair seemed to appear!!! I really wished i took a before and after photo!!! I'll just have to settle for an after photo. LOL.

Ummm.... what else..... oh yeah, how can i forget some one is interested in buying Banjo, and the best part is they are local!!!!!! YAY.... I just hope that his minor issues don't send them away.

Lily.

Pics

I love the first pic, he just had to see what was in my hand! LOL.

















The famous lick block!














Nothing to do with horses, but i couldn't help myself. I love this one sooo much!!!!!! And i didn't use zoom at all! Lol. This is my new background for my phone. Sorry Banjo i'll put you back soon.

A mixture of slackness and excitment!

I've been home a few days, but haven't done much with Banjo. I've brushed him once or twice since my last post. I've been so busy doing nothing!!!! Maybe tomorrow after the auction, and work i'll have time.....

I'm 99.9% sure my grandparents and Dad are buying a property with 2 (maybe 3) horses!!!!! Once it's official i'll hint to them i'll look after them. I really shouldn't be getting my hopes up, but i can't help it.

I've seen all 3, but 2 only at a glance. 2, i like are mares, one's 24 and the others 36. They are a bit under weight, but other then that look healthy. I don't think they've been handled much for a long time, because there owner is sick, and also the fact that they are in a 2000 acre paddock with 200 cows. From memory they are both chestnut, or maybe bay, i really don't remember now. The other is also a bit under weight, but i noticed his feet need doing real bad! He walks on his frogs, which i guess is why he limps when he canters. He is palomino, and about 25. He use to be a cutting horse, oh and he's a gelding. Lol. I'm not sure if he is being left there though, i hope so. I'm really getting way to excited about this now!!

And another thing this new property has tonnes of awesome places to ride!!!! Now i might be more motivated to do something (probably not)....

Well hopefully i'll have something to write tomorrow night.

Lily.

I just got back from Banjo, and we had some progress!

I've been working on leading him, because that seems to be the only time he tries to bite me. And well it's working. 2 days ago he tried at least 5 times, every time i would 'blow up', and then just continue like it didn't happen. Today he did it once, and didn't try again! As for the stopping mid walk, he's hardly doing that, he's figured it out it's easier to keep following me then to do a circle.

I'm so happy, but i forgot to mention why the sudden change in his behavior. It's pretty funny actually. It all started when i was studying for my agriculture exam (yes, i actually attempt to study, lol), i was reading my textbook, and i was skimming through the vitamins and minerals section, and and and, i lost what i was saying, oh yes, it was talking about the deficiencies and their symptoms. Some symptoms for calcium deficiency include: enlargement of joints, lameness and stiffness. And phosphorus deficiency: will chew on wood. Banjo was lame, a little stiff and chewing on wood. This is caused because the pastures he is on and has been on since I've owned him have mainly been non-native grasses. It is totally confusing, but it makes sense in my head. It's got something to do with oxalate.... SO i gave him a lick block, which is sort of a winter supplement, but contains calcium and phosphorus.

It's only been a couple of days and i can already see the difference. But i say that all the time, and it's not true. Just have to wait and see.

ANOTHER BIG ACHIEVEMENT:

Today i brushed Banjo for the first time since his run in with the gate! I was so excited!! Every other time i took the brush near him he would pull back, and just not want to be near it, or any thing else for that matter. He accepted it almost straight away, and he let me brush me all over (face and all). He's still muddy from the rain the other day, so i really wanted to get the harder brush, but i didn't want to push my luck.

But i did after anyway, i got him to lift his front feet. Which he is good at, only needing light pressure. BUT, i had this impulse to lift his back feet, i'm always really worried that he would kick me or something. He didn't try to, but i wasn't very successful. There's always next time.

Better go, everyone is annoying me.

Lily.

Untitled

So much for posting later, it’s only almost been a week. Lol.

I know have no idea what i was going to say the other day. Then i had something to say yesterday, but didn’t get around to writing it, now i’m not sure what i was going to say.

Today we were working on the gate in the yard, and Banjo came up from the paddock. Dad started using the grinder and Banjo didn’t even filch!!!! I was so surprised i thought it would of sent him flying down the paddock. AND then there’s more…… I started to hammer a bolt through the hole, and Banjo just starred at me!!! I thought it was pretty cool that he wasn’t scared. Then next thing you know he’s on the ground having a roll, without a care in the world.

A friend asks me who actually reads my blog, and i told her ‘more then likely no one, but i need to write this stuff down so i can do back read how far we’ve come. I don’t care if i’m the only one who reads it, it’s more of a personal thing anyway’.

Hopefully i can go and do some stuff with him soon/later/today. If he isn’t too spastic after they’ve finish riding. By they i mean 7 motorbikes! Not the normal 2, but half of Monto!! Lol….

Maybe tonight i’ll post some more (i’ll try my hardest to remember).

Lily.

Just a quick post

Just a quick post before i go for a shower, i think my bond with Banjo is stronger then i realise.........

I'll write more later, when I'm meant to be doing my assignment.

Lily.

Finally Some New Pictures!

Or maybe not.....

Ok, now i'm starting to think Banjo doesn't have 'Big Head'. He defiantly isn't walking normally, and he seems to have a sore back (which would explain every think!!!). I feel so bad for only realizing this now. The next problem is i don't know what to do now! I'll have another chat with Dad and see what he thinks.

Lily.

It's all coming to an end!

Well, now where do i start.....

I think i've finally worked out what's wrong with Banjo. He could have 'big head', which is what horses get when there pasture has too much oxalate(i think that's the word), which is in buffalo grass and some other tropical grasses. So now he's back in the yards eating hay, and he's loving it. His symptoms are sort of coming and going at the moment. His jaws are swollen (only gotten bad in the last week), but the weird thing is he is walking normal again.

I went down and caught him this afternoon and he was easy to lead, pick up his feet (only the front though, not game to do the back) and HQ yield. He was perfect. I was mucking around and trying to get him to step backwards when i did, without any pressure or anything. It worked a couple of times, some how. Then i had to stop because he was starting to bored.

The worst part is...... since the paddocks that Banjo can go in both have buffalo grass in them, Dad said once Banjo is better and i find him a new home, i won't be able to get another horse, since there isn't anywhere for him/her to go. I couldn't believe it! I still can't, luckily i have 6 months to work on him. Lol.

Lily.

This is so confusing!!!

I locked Banjo in the yard earlier this morning, since he was in there getting a drink. I just got back and he is the most weirdest horse ever, and totally confusing me!!!!

I checked him all over and he was fine. I tried to lead him forward, we went a couple of steps and he stopped, so i back him by the nose (so far that's the only good thing i've taught him). He went backwards fine, then i tried forwards again, same thing, so back we went again. It took him a couple of goes before he realized it was easier to go forwards the first time. We walked around the yard for 5 minutes or so, then i opened the gate. 5 step past the gate and he stopped! I don't get it, one minute he's fine, the next he won't move!! He is such as a pain! Backing up didn't work, we just ended up closer to the yard. So a tried a little bribery, that worked. We happily walked all the way down the lane way to his paddock. Now i'm thinking i should of went back into the yard instead of using treats, i'll have to remember that next time.

As i walking back to the shed i realized, maybe he's depressed or something, because this not walking thing has only started since he moved paddocks. And it only happens when he walks away from his old paddock. HAHA, that couldn't be true, could it??

Lily.

I think i broke him! again!

I don't know what's going on with Banjo. Lately he just stands there, he won't move. I can get the halter on and then go to lead him and he just plants his feet firmly on the ground!! But at the same time he is completely relaxed, way more then he use to be. Could he be in pain and i haven't noticed, or is he just being plain old stubborn??

Lily.

TOTALLY Awesome! But What Changed?

I just finished spending some time with Banjo. I took a brush with me, so i could stay down the paddock with him. Catching him was easy, the handful of hay won him over pretty quick. lol. I found some flat ground and started rubbing him, he didn't move. I then got the brush, he had a stiff and didn't seem to care about it. It suddenly seemed like it wasn't a monster after all. I brushed him and he again didn't move.I thought 2 good things, now some thing bad should happen. And it did..... I tried to led him down the laneway and like normal he wouldn't budge!! I tried to lead him in a circle and then go forwards. It worked.... After about 5 goes. The same spot he kept stopping, so i kept going until he would walk past/though 'the spot'. He soon worked out that he wouldn't have to go in circles if he kept working, so i guess it worked. Until next time.... I sort of pushed my luck a little, by trying a few HQ yields. They didn't work out to well, but he tried for me so that's all i can ask for.

Now for the AWESOME bit!! i took the halter off and got the brush that was laying on the ground a few metres away. Banjo actually followed me. I walked up to the yards, i was half up the hill and i stopped and looked behind me, there was Banjo only a few metres away. I kept going, he didn't move. I got to the top of the hill, and he had only moved a few steps. Then he started cantering towards me, i was scared for a second because he never moves faster then a walk when i'm around. I thought he must of wanted a drink or some hay. But i was wrong, he came to me!!!! I pat him, and promised him some hay. I quickly went and got him some, when i came back he was already rolling in the dirt!!! GRRR. He always does it, now he's dusty and fluffy!

It was totally awesome, and i didn't give up straight away when it gets hard. I know i'll probably never ride him again, but that doesn't mean i can't do stuff with him. I don't even know how i ended up going to him, it's not like he was in the yard or close to the house. I found some motivation, now i just got to work out where from!!!!

Lily n Banjo.

Where do i start?

Well......

Banjo's battle wounds are healing nicely, you can't see them(unless you look really(really) closely). His winter is getting pretty thick and fuzzy!!

My poor boy has been kidded out of his paddock, and now has to find a new tree to sleep under in the back paddock. Now i can't watch him when i walk to the bus in the morning!

He's sort of started going back to his old self, sort of. He's started to come up to me now, he use to just stand there and look at me. BUT the bad part is he is fearful of so much stuff. Just a few examples the mitt thingy i use to put his fly repellent stuff on with and grooming brushes(Can't wait for worming!). Ohh and the gate. There's this thing he has going with the gate way. He'll walk through the gate and then stop. He won't budge! He'll go in circles, both ways, and back into the yard, but no further. Then Dad comes and he behaves perfectly.

I know Banjo needs to learn some manners, and i want to help him. Help him doesn't really seem to fit. Lol. I just don't seem to be motivated enough! I think what's the point of doing anything with him if i'm never going to ride him. That and the fact that as soon as we start to get somewhere something happens and we get knocked 2 steps. I hate not doing anything with him, but i don't find it fun being with him. I know it wasn't going to be easy and straight forward, but i seriously never seem to get anywhere!

I'll start advertising him again soon, once the wounds have gone completely. And hopefully by then i'll have been motivated to work with him.

Goodnight,
Lily.

Fearful!!!

I've now realized that Banjo's run in with the fence has made him fearful of everything!!! I can't brush him without him moving, if it goes out of his eye sight he will back up or do what ever it takes to see it. I can barely pat him now, without him going crazy. All the work we've done together has completely gone, it's like we're back to square one! Just as i thought we were making progress. Looks like we have to start from scratch, again.

Lily n My Crazy Banjo.

UPDATE on Banjo

My poor boy is slightly limbing now. And i've discovered some more battle wounds, there right across his stomach. How he got done there is still a mystery!!

Well at least my weekend has been eventful, lol. It's actually been terrible, it all started Saturday morning. First the orphaned calf died, then the Banjo incident, and today me hurting my knee as i got thrown into the swimming pool. Oh and did i mention the English assignment due tomorrow. Yes i've had a busy weekend.

Lily.

Where did he go???

Dad came back from town and went straight over to the yards to check on the cattle, well the cattle were fine, but Banjo wasn't. He came back over to the house and asked me where was Banjo. And i told him i left him in the yards. He said well he ain't there now! At that point i started freaking out, i had been in the house all morning studying and i hadn't heard a thing!

I went over and had a look, the fence was fine, and the gates were all shut. And none of the hay in the shed was eaten. We went for a drive down the lane way and couldn't see him. So we went around the edge of our property, along the road. And we finally found him, he was about a km or more from his yard.

He broke 3 wires out of 4, on the gate he ran through. He has a few cuts, and he isn't lame so i guess thats a good thing. This is the second accident in 3 months, maybe I'm cursed!

It was a long walk home, it seemed like forever with no socks on!!!!!!!! ARGH, 2 blisters!!!!

Just wanted to post it before i forgot and also so i didn't have to go and study some more! But now i should get back to it.

Lily.

I ACTUALLY DID IT!!!!

WOW, I'M STILL I SHOCK..... I THINK.

I saddled Banjo again today, and i got on him!!!!!!!!!!!!! And Dad led me around, nothing fancy but we were moving!

YAY YAY YAY YAY!!!!

I wasn't nervous at all, but i didn't feel to safe. It seemed like nothing changed, he was back to his old self again. He kept trying to bite Dad when he was leading him, and he bit me when i was leading about to let him go (it hurt!!!!). I checked all his gear and everything, it was all fine.

I know i keep saying i'm going to sell him and then i say i'm not. Well this time is different, he has changed on the ground, but not in the saddle. So i am going to sell him, and this time i'm not going back. I want to ride so much, but Banjo is holding me back. I still love him and i always will, but at this moment in time he isn't for me.

Lily.

I DID IT, I DID IT! ! ! ! ! !

First of all i would like to say thanks to Petra and Ann for the wonderful comments. Thanks so much i really appreciate every thing you say.

I SADDLED BANJO!!!!!

It may not seem like much, but considering he hasn't seen the tack for a year now and hasn't been ridden longer then that, he was pretty good. I made sure i watched how he reacted to everything, i also noticed he was calmer on his 'off' side, it's like he knows every time something happens on his left side he gets ridden or something. I had to get Dad to help when i showed him the saddle. It was hard for me to explain to Dad what i wanted him to do, normally he would have just thrown the saddle on, but now i do things a different way and i think he is slowly accepting (learning) it. I just saddled him, i hadn't thought any further then that, but i think i really wanted to ride.

Hopefully, if it isn't as windy and i have time, then i'll saddled him again, and who knows what will happen...........

Lily.

Frustrated

I went to play with Banjo this afternoon, i only worked on the usual stuff, nothing new. Then i got a bit bored, so i tried to no contact yield him backwards(i've tried forwards, but failed miserably), and this time was no different. I got pretty frustrated,(sorry boy!).

Also someone is still interested in Banjo, i don't want to reply to her, because at the moment i don't think i'm in the right head space, because i want to tell her to come out and have a look at him. But deep down i don't want too.

Lily.

Ummmmmmmmm...............

Ok,now.....

This just a short post.

Sorry for yesterdays emotional post.

I want to do level 1 with Banjo, but i feel like it's to hard to do, at the moment anyway. I don't want to/can't sell him, but i feel as if i have to if i want to get another horse, something a bit less... challenging.

I'm sick of using the word but!!!!!!!!!!

Lily.

Stressed Out.....

I feel sooo stressed at the moment! I really don't care if know one ever reads this, but i've got to put it somewhere.

Tomorrow i have a maths exam, a agricultural excursion out to a farm (would be good if the owner wasn't by dads EX best mate(they had an argument a few weeks ago)), ohh i mustn't forget school photos (i hate photos!), the usual guy problems(LOL).... i mustn't forget the Banjo situation!!! and that ain't all, but i think you get the point... lol.

I doubt if i'll pass tomorrows exam, - i'm totally stressed out(and confused, lost, not with it)! I can't even think straight. This morning i spent 10 minutes looking for my wallet and it was sitting right in front of me, and that was after i had a coffee!!!!! If it wasn't for my brother i'm sure i would have missed the bus everyday this week. lol.

Banjo haven't spent any time with Banjo this week. I've lost all hope in riding him, i know told Ann was going to do level 1 with him, but now i see no point. I'm almost crying writing this, but i can't go on lying to myself anymore! I'm on the verge of giving up, i can't stand it anymore! I say i'm going to ride to but when i actually get there i'm scared. I know people say to just get over it, but i spent 6 months terrified before i gave up the first time 3 years ago. Now i'm about to give up for the 3rd time. I hate giving up, but i'm running out of options.

I feel so lost, i don't know what to do anymore. I feel numb and empty.

Lily.

Thinking way to much...

I've been thinking, what if i actually sell Banjo. Then maybe i could be riding by the end of the year.. Please tell me what you think. Should i keep him or sell him??

Lily.

Bad News, Good News... Which First??

Ok, i'll start with the bad, because that's the oldest. Well as i said in a post before, i mentioned about selling Banjo..... Well, when i was having a really bad time with Banjo i was on the verge of selling him. I talked to my old pony club instructor to see if she knew anyone who was looking for a horse, she said she didn't but would let me know if she did. Well just the other day i saw her again and she had found some one who might be interested in him, but now i don't want to sell him!!!! Dad said if i'm not going to ride him then i have to sell him, maybe not have to, more should sell him. But see i really don't want to, i tried to explain why but i just couldn't, even though i haven't spent as much time as i should have in the last year with him, i've formed a strong bond with him, and i think he is starting to see me as a leader.

Now good news, Dad knows about me and QS, well not as much QS itself, but he knows that i am interested in natural horsemanship methods/principals.

Me and Banjo have come a long way in the last week, and i'm still jumping up and down. LOL.
Today we had a quick session, we done some yields, backing and leading in a circle by the nose (really really proud because 2 days ago he hated pressure on his nose!!), and lifting his front feet for me, he still needs all the phases there but he's getting the hang on it pretty quick.

I've tried to drive him forward with the stick, but he isn't noticing it or any movement.

And we are getting satellite, yay. NO MORE DIAL UP!!! I've still got to wait a month but it's happening. Maybe when i get it i'll make a website, and move my blog there.....

I better go and finish my homework (not the QS kind, boring Maths!) lol.

Night,
Lily.

Another Awesome Day!!

I really wanted to sneak in 10 minutes with Banjo this afternoon, but we were making so much progress i keep going for 30 minutes!!!

I got him to do phase 1 and 2 HQ and FQ yields, backing by the nose, leading by the nose, and even raising his front feet!!!!!!!!!!!!!! YAY YAY YAY!!! I'M SOOOO HAPPY!!

Ummmm, i tried to drive him forward but not even an attempt in moving there....

Lily.

Grinning from ear to ear!

YAY,

I'm so happy, this afternoon i went to work with Banjo, and we had a great time.

We're still doing only basic stuff, but basic is good. Hopefully soon i can read some more and watch the dvd, then we can do some more exciting stuff. YAY!!! I'm really excited.

Today, with Banjo we did some hindquarter yields, and attempted forequarter yields (still tossing his head), all was achieved using no more then phase 3 pressure!!!! Still having major issues backing, i think i should probably spend more time desensitizing his head.

I've been reading 'Through the eyes of the horse', by Carlos Tabernaberri, and i absolutely love it. Although his technique is a bit different from QS, i like his ideas and some of his concepts, - especially leading! After 10 minutes leading Banjo around i learnt to walk in front of him, but off the side so i am safe, just like a leader would lead their herd. And not to look back, which shows that i am uncertain in where i am going. He willingly stops at my shoulder, just like he would with his leader!!!! YAY...

I'm too tied to write more, so i'll save my drama for tomorrow night's post. A little hint though, some one is interested in buying Banjo, and i have the choice to sell him, again..... But i'll save all that for tomorrow night!

Good Night,
Lily.

Quantum Savvy

What is Quantum Savvy?

Quantum Savvy is a fantastic educational programme that teaches students from all around the world, all about horses and horsemanship.

Based on working with the horse’s natural instincts and looking at things from the their point of view, the Quantum Savvy Horsemanship programme is founded around 3 key principles:

• Horses should have options
• Horses learn by when comfort is offered
• Success is found by following a repeatable programme

Horses are highly trainable and with enough repetition can be taught almost anything. Training however can become extremely monotonous for horse and human and can quench the natural heart, desire and enthusiasm of the horse.

At Quantum Savvy, we spend the time to create rapport with our horses and build a communication together. We ensure that they always have options, that they are not forced to do anything and we make sure we look at things from their point of view. This builds incredible relationships between horse and human and makes life so much easier and safer around them.

As prey animals (animals preyed upon by predators) horses instinctively push or fight against pressure in order to find freedom and escape. As such they have learnt that comfort or release is the desired outcome. We see evidence of this daily with horses doing whatever is necessary to escape confinement or pressure of any kind (just think of horses that pull back for instance).

At Quantum Savvy we recognize that horses learn by when comfort is offered or by release and our whole programme of working with horses - Release Focus Training"! - is based upon this crucial principle.

The QS Programme focuses on students learning when to release and having horses seeking comfort, the outcome of which is horses that are incredibly soft, subtle and willing and a horse/human connection that is founded on heart and desire.

There is any amount of advise and opinion around when it comes to horses, the key is to find the right advise/opinion for you that will work not just with one horse but any horse you deal with. For any knowledge to be useful and meaningful, it must provide consistent results, results that are repeatable and lasting.

The QS Programme is a step-by-step system all laid out in easy to follow lessons that take you progressively toward your goal, one step at a time. And the great news is that having a repeatable programme means that once you have the knowledge, you have it forever.

All aspects of horsemanship are covered in the QS programme; from safe and effective handling on the ground - things like trailer loading, picking up feet and tying up – to saddling, mounting and rein positions, impulsion and confident forward movement, jumping, lead changes and more advanced maneuvers with flexion and collection. Quantum Savvy covers all elements of horsemanship training also, including colt starting (starting horses under saddle), foundation training, horses with difficulties and performance horses. Everything from weekend pleasure riders, to competitors and professionals.

TO FIND OUT MORE GO TO ---> Quantum Savvy

BRAND new blog & BRAND new challenges

Ok, now i've got to get the hang if this thing! lol

I guess i should start with a bit of a background... I live in Monto, on 300 acres of wonderful irrigation and scrub country. Being almost 20kms from town means we're lucky to get more then 10 cars go past a day, i love it out here! I attend the local high school, Monto State High School, even though it has approx. 180 students it's the best and only high school....

(YOU MIGHT NEED A VERY GOOD MAP TO FIND MONTO) LOL

I purchased Banjo this time last year, he is a cheeky 14.3hh, 13 year old, bay arab x quarter horse. I'll post some pictures when i can. When i first bought him i intended to use to regain my confidence, all was going great, until..... he sort of took off, not so much bolted. But i felt that i had no control so that damaged my confidence a bit. He was then left in the paddock until now, with not much human contact. Now, finally after almost 10 months i'm trying to get back into the swing of things and see him everyday, - only been 2 days, but i've seen him 4 times. YAY!!

Ok now for today...

Banjo is now in the yards, not in the paddock which is where he would rather be. Yesterday, yesterday afternoon and this morning i rubbed him all over with my hand, completely at liberty!!!!! It may no seem like a big deal to most people, but considering just the other day i couldn't even lead him (no idea what was happening that day). YAY.. I'm so excited. Then this afternoon we were doing some HQ and FQ yields, they're getting better, and we did some backing, Banjo lifts his head up sometimes when my hand is on his face, - not easy to stay with him when your short!! lol ..... I tried the picking up the feet using the chestnut, might have to watch the dvd again, cuz he didn't even budge. THIS AFTERNOON WAS SOOO AWESOME!!!

I think i worked out his whole bitting/nipping problem he has going on...... i noticed most of the time when he was trying to nip me was when i was rubbing him, i think that he is trying to groom me, like he would with other horses, what do you think??

Lily.