Bella & the flag

[lilholley]

Me and Bella did some groundwork yesterday and as she is a bit rubbish with flappy stuff we played with the flag. We also played walking over the tarpaulin - after an an initial zoom or two over it she was totally unbothered.. The flag was a bit more scary, but she got the hang of it eventually!

The pics aren't great - its hard to wield a camera, flag and pony!

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v613/holleyjukes/june%202010/flag016.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v613/holleyjukes/june%202010/flag018.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v613/holleyjukes/june%202010/flag019.jpg

but mum its crunchy and blue and I don't trust it!
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v613/holleyjukes/june%202010/flag020.jpg

"what is this Chelsea anyway?"
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v613/holleyjukes/june%202010/flag021.jpg

A very short vid of us trying to go sideways - the back lady said it would be good for her back. We are still learning - interesting how she goes better when I go sideways properly too!
YouTube- sideways.wmv

Tacked up and ready to do some 'proper work'
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v613/holleyjukes/june%202010/flag023.jpg

Thanks for looking :D

[Smurf]

What a great post! And what a clever boy! Im gonna try that with the flag!

[lilholley]

Thanks :) She has some muscle wastage on her back in her saddle area and apparently anything that gets them stepping under can help build up the back muscles. The back lady said to do leg yielding and also turn on the forehand and shoulder in. I'm not sure if our attempt is good enough to be called leg yield yet lol!
x

[IcarusGirl]

She's looking lovely! has she always had that dark patch on the underside of her neck, or has she rubbed it or something?

[My Crazy Clan]

lovely photos, she looks well.

[bimba]

Love the sideways stuff, how do you teach them to do it with so little pressure? She looks great!

[Jan]

What a good girl, good idea with all these flags around at the minute.

[lilholley]

That's what inspired me Jan! She also has an England flag - I put it on her feed bucket but she's so clumsy with it that she makes the flag move about loads and gets too scared to eat her tea! Bless..

The dark patch on her neck is where she was shaved for her Tildren drip (magic arthritis drug)

Shaz yeah we use Helen - we think she is fab.. Mine is a little bright blue Hyundai - its quite recognisable, call in if you see it..

I don't really know how I taught her to go sideways - she is very responsive to body language which helps. I think I started teaching her to yield her quarters and front end separately and built it up from there.

Thanks for the nice comments :)
x

[gem]

Of course she didn't like the flag it was a Chelsea one. The pony has sense!!