Our trainer, Bjørn, came up today to show us how to lunge Hjalti.  This was Hjalti’s first time being lunged and Daisy tacked him up  – he behaved like he did this every day.  Bit in, bridle on, reins over.  One clever little horse (the reins came off as it was quickly evident they were annoying and a potential hazard all round).

Bjørn taught Hjalti how to go forward (by standing in the centre and being behind the forward movement), how to maintain the circle and how to come into the centre when given the signal.

Hjalti was lunged on both reins.

And he was, mostly, a good boy.

He has a very strong trot, a very strong one indeed.  A wow trot.

And it was not all plain sailing.  There were a few blips, and the odd tantrum.

But blips are for learning from and Hjalti calmed down quickly and agreed to stick to trot.

He was then a good boy.  He had learned a valuable lesson.

The result was Hjalti listening and learning sensibly, which was the whole reason for lungeing.

Next up was the rein thing again.

Both reins to start teaching direction and turning in response to pressure on the rein so that when Hjalti has a rider, steering won’t be too big of a surprise.

So there we are. Another hurdle attempted and over.  Of course it is very early days and Hjalti is showing he is ready for what we are asking.  Whether we back him or not yet is a different matter.  At the moment all this in-hand training builds valuable foundation blocks.

We have been working hard.

BeAnne and I.

We have, really, we have.

I have been commissioned to make a short film for a local community group and they want to use my amateur animations skills.

By actually working (and not playing) in my shudio, I am discovering it’s little ways, like I need proper curtains. To start with I used an old throw of Floss’ and tacked it to the window but today I found I definitely need working curtains.

As I didn’t have any to hand, I ended up taking off my thermal vest and hanging it to block out the light.  Don’t laugh, it worked a treat.  Necessity is the mother of invention.

Outside Spring is thinking about appearing, if rather early.  We have snowdrops and their arrival always put a smile on my face.

The rosa rugosa is starting up again – OH gave it the hacking, sorry, pruning, of a lifetime.

The daffodils are up and away too.

The horses are enjoying the weak, if slightly warm(ish) Shetland sunshine too.  Haakon is resting with Kappi and Iacs in the background.  Some days he is a tired old boy with no energy and then I suck my teeth and worry about him.

Having said Spring is on its way, I fully expect it to snow tomorrow.

Daisy and I did our now routine walk with Efstur and Hjalti up the track and back.  They had improved, which was good – better listening and watching our body language.  They both saw a cyclist and stared and stared and stared…… (and probably still staring if we hadn’t taken them back to the indoor school).

Daddy’s bridle went back on.

Efstur practiced his special skill (that would be standing still without fidgeting because fidgeters get no attention, you know!).

Then Daisy attached the reins to Hjalti’s bridle.  She put them over his head and back again a few times so that he got used to the movement.

Next, she gently pulled each rein so Hjalti could become used to the idea of turning his head in response.

Another walk around the school, this time using the reins for leading.

And then on with Mr Nosey-Band on the first hole – the loosest it could be.

Lots and lots of praise and being told how clever he was (and he was – we really meant it!)

I took Hjalti for a walk and all was fine.  Absolutely lovely.

And then off with everything and out with the reward bucket of grub.

Hjalti has grown a bit since his original encounter with the bucket.

He still has the softest nose, though.

Hjalti is 4 years old now.  Today Daisy and I started his proper big-boy training.  We took him, and Efstur as company, for a walk to the end of the track, just to confirm the basics that he already knows.  Stopping, starting using pressure-release as well as body language.

I had Efstur who was hoof-perfect and very happy to be going out and about.  He didn’ t know there was a Big Bad World waiting.

The others looked on, pointing and laughing, and I definitely heard sniggering too.

Hjalti works best with “negative reinforcement” training – “negative reinforcement relies on the use of pressure and timely release of pressure to train horses. It’s only called “negative” in a mathematical sense because something (pressure) is taken away during the training process to reward the horse for a correct behavioral response.” – The Horse.com

After our little walk, we moved onto more sophisticated stuff.  The bridle and bit.  We used Taktur’s bridle as it has a very soft bit and is easy to adjust.

Hjalti cooperated beautifully.

Obviously, he was a bit bewildered with this new thing in his mouth so we made it easier for him and fed him small bits of carrot so he thought it was worth it.

There was lots of praise and telling him what a clever, good boy he was being.

Meanwhile the side-kick and companion was being a bit of a tit.  He was learning himself how to stand quietly once tied up.

He can learn this special skill while Hjalti has his lessons.  Do him good.

As the training was going well, Daisy took Hjalti for a walk around the school wearing Daddy’s bridle.

Look at my little boy – all growed up now.

Such hard work deserves a bucket of grub.

I am so proud of my first home-bred Icelandic horse foal *** sniff ***.

Firstly, do not judge my filthy windows please. 

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Anywho, Monster has gone a bit odd.  He was always odd and now he is even odder.

He has taken up using his litter tray, which has remained untouched since he was first allowed out when he arrived back in April ’18 and now he wants to sit on the roof.   Very strange.

We’re not sure why and we spend many hours discussing theories to explain this strange behaviour.

My theory is that Monster thinks Spring is almost here (the odd snowdrop around and it is suddenly warmer) so he wants to go out more and explore.

OH reckons he got a gluff from a rabbit when hunting.

Daisy thinks he was startled while having a quiet little pee outside so now has decided to use the house litter-tray.

Oh my word – just look at the abysses of fat folds!  Squidgy-widgy.

Well, whatever, it is, Monster has changed.  He even quite likes me and followed me into my shudio this morning.

Of course, he wanted out.

He wanted in.

He wanted to explore.

He wanted to annoy.

Meanwhile, Her Maj  has comes to terms with her bed so that’s one good thing.

One odd, very odd cat, though.  He fits right in!