breakthrough? and before & after pics

We got on. she set off (really keen), down to the 20 acre.

Now, bear in mind the usual track, well worn, is to the right hand side, with the River Wear on your right again and the field off to your left.

We got a little way along but she didn't like this. Set her jaw and turned round. But then stopped again. I turned her right (so i'm going at right angles to the normal track, towards a fenceline with woods on the other side).

We then turned right - so we are now parallel to the normal track but going away from the yard.

We carried on. There is a gap through to the 2nd half of the 20 acre. she looked at it but carried on walking through. We turned left up the fenceline. At this point, you get to the corner of the field and if you turn right you are then heading for the normal exit to the 20 acre, with a stream (that has come down from the ford) on your left, and both our thoughts were to do that.

But we both clocked people on foot - estate owner & wife - and their two dogs. Molly thought, no don't fancy the people - she wasn't sure - So there's also a gap to my left and I can see there is then a track which I "know" (not that i've done it before, it used to be closed off) up to the hardcore track that leads from yard to ford.

So through the gap, and Molly at first wanted to go across the field. BUT - i turned her to go up the track I'd spotted (pleased I could see other hoof prints ahead!) and up there we went, even got a small amount of trot.

At one point half way up there there is, on your right, a large (huge) whiteish slab of stone over a rivulet - that was a "stare" and lets move away from this, but she agreed to carry on and we trotted some more (me ducking for low branches) and out onto the hardcore as I thought.

and left along that, down past the main house and back into the yard.

really pleased. Course, she did blot her copybook slightly - i always go into the arena to get off, to save the foot, but Jackie was mucking out her trailer, so that was scary.

but I was SO PLEASED. I really think we are making a breakthrough now. it might just be she;s bored schooling (fair enough, so am I for now!) but there has to be some confidence there as well.

Now, the before and after pictures. you all think these will be the horse. wrong.

We had the carpet fitters in today! Hurray! this is Coir, herringbone pattern.