ground work

i said on saturday i'd been watching richard maxwell's new dvd at my friends (have now just ordered my own....)

so the plan for tonight was to make a start on that, borrowed rope halter from friend and put my (too long) rope on it

but of course i'd forgotten that she can't even stand still in her own space in teh arena ... she starts circling round me as soon as i've shut the gate and moved into the middle!

so i decided the first thing to do was not, clearly set away from a stand - but to teach turning in to stand from out on the circle.

difficult to explain if you haven't watched his work (and of course i've only watched the dvd ...) essentially its the circling work with the rope, using to apply pressure by spinning the rope.

so she sets off, then after acouple of circuits (or even just one) I spin it very fast which moves her quarters out, turns her in and she stands.

by the finish she was really starting to think about it and realise that i wanted her to turn in and stand facing me.

so i finished after 10 minutes i think it was and she was indeed thinking about it and had stood. Assuming the weather stays ok, that's the plan for the rest of the week and i'll ride again at the weekend.

i wish I'd known more about richard maxwell's work when i first got her, i would have had him out straight away

as it is, having found out the cost, i don't think i can afford it AND have a holiday, and if i don't have the holiday (we've been invited to France for a christening, and given that i haven't gone to the phillippines and the christening is the son of some friends.....) i'll be very very unpopular.

hey ho.

Jean, the bit is a mullen mouth snaffle at the moment. did have her in a myler but the mullen mouth has been more successful. Mind, i've been thinking about going back to the myler to see. and i really do want to try the Pelham.

now, completely off topic ... i've been writing this whilst watching a programme called Monster moves on Channel 5 - all about moving two churches, one had to go through the middle of Sarasota (it's steeple and the rectory also went, separately!!!!). they say next week we'll be watching an entire town!!!!!!