Oh Yes. It's the Weather Channel again!!! I just feel I have to mention it, being British and all! August has been....er....odd!! Every day its been cloudy, heavy and around 20c. But NO RAIN, except for 5 minutes of mizzle. With a North wind steadily blowing its a been chilly enough to wear jeans, boots and jacket. Then the sun peaks out (usually late afternoon) and its clothes off, sweltering! I'm confused!
So the Top Barn Challenges! Well Lulu and I went out of Last Horseman Standing on Level 4. Simple Challenge!!!! Lunge horse in walk, stopping every quarter of a circle (like a clock-face on 12, 3, 6 and 9). Lu, like many horses has been taught to go forward on the lunge. We worked at it daily. We really tried. I discovered in long reins off the bit, she would halt, but that was due to pressure on her mouth. The minute I went to one rein, no halt. I tried everything. Carrots (lots of), leading to start, a surcingle, a single rein through the bit, no bit, different words, waving a whip in front of her, jumping out in front of her, crouching down, sitting down, crying!!!! Lu was getting as frustrated as I was. So that was it. We were defeated. On Monday I had a look at Challenge 5, And I Laughed! And Laughed. Challenge 5 is a ridden challenge, backing up round a Figure 8. I may have mentioned.....Lu does not back up for anyone!!!! That made me feel better. Its been interesting to work with Lu. She has been trained differently to Charlie, and its been a challenge in itself to communicate what I want. I wish the remaining Challengers the Best of Luck.
And so the 100 mile Challenge with Charlie? Well its safe to say we will never crack it in the time left, having just got under 90 miles left!!!!!! When I signed up, I thought the IV drugs may help my breathing. Which they have, a bit. I forgot my right leg was as strong as a foal in its first 15 minutes! And I forgot Charlies ability to plant like a thousand year old Oak, when he is unsure. However, he is doing well at long reining. I abandoned the idea of driving him when I uncovered his cataract over the lens of his off-side eye. BUT....Who is to say we can't drive without blinkers eh? I asked Mark the Mechanic and Part-time Horse Whisperer to make me a large skateboard, so Charlie could pull me along. He refused on the grounds of it being dangerous! ??????? So i have bought some roller-trainers!!
I have also caught Mark watching Pony Carts on Ebay!!!!!! My (very bad) maths says we have to do 2.5 miles a day to complete in time. I'm thinking that I will just see how long it actually takes me to complete 100 miles. I can crack on when Charlie and I have filmed our entry for the Top Barn Liberty class. Most of the test is no problem.....till we get to the Lunging part. On a line, off a line, Charlie does not like to move away from me. So we are working on following a target around me. We are getting there. We have a week or so to complete. If I don't break my neck on the Roller-Trainers!! It all might be easier to just jump on and ride the bugger!!!!!!
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