And no, I didn't mean SMART as this one never progressed beyond "maybe one day"!

Any how, I'd always hoped to take Sam out when I rode Jak. Seeing Sam's initial leadwork and recall brought me back to reality but last weekend I figured I'd give it a go.

Chose a route that started with Sam loose and then gave me a chance to try him on the lead before committing to a proper (but thankfully quiet!) road.

So we got going and Sam ran round in circles trying to work out where my voice was coming from. He eventually twigged and followed us. Jak was angelic although didn't want to keep going if Sam was too close behind him on a narrow track. Fine if Sam went on ahead.

Sam was then really good on the lead. A little bit stronger than I'd have liked but perfectly in-keeping with the rules of shaping. Needs work though as Jak's back and shoulder's are dodgy enough at the best of times without Sam pulling him to one side.

Then we got to the road and it was a real light-bulb moment. When we ride we ride with the traffic - Jak knows to ride on the left. Sam knows to walk on the right as we walk against the traffic. The net result is going down the middle, Sam pulling strongly! As traffic expects us to be on the left I tried that first. Sam just couldn't do it, he didn't "get" being led on Jak's left, and he was too scared of traffic to go on Jak's right. We ended up in a bit of a tangle, making me very glad that Jak is bitless..... So then I tried riding on the right with Sam between Jak and the hedge. thanks to Jak being a star (and we do go on the right occasionally to go safely around blind corners) that was fine. We just confused a driver who turned onto our road as we were approaching the junction but thankfully she seemed amused.

And then we got back to bridlepaths for a lovely long canter/gallop home, Sam keeping up easily. At one point Jak was giving Sam stroppy looks and trying to cut him up (as he does when we race other horses, very funny!) if Sam looked as though he would overtake.

Next SMART goal is getting Jak fit enough for a sponsored ride in the autumn and the plan is to go with a friend's daughter, whose pony is also barefoot/bitless. If I can exercise Sam and Jak together more often the I have a much better chance at increasing his fitness. Hurrah. But in the meantime I need to give Sam a bit more practice at leading on my left!!

Catherine

I remember trying to ride with Jasper (springer) in tow, and to be honest I think you're doing the same as I did - rushing things a bit! It does look terribly romantic, seeing obedient dogs following horses, but I also remember having my heart in my mouth (or mi amino in mi nase as we said in Latin!) as there's so much to go wrong and I didn't go near any roads!

I was going to say, shouldn't there be a 'T', but of course on opening your thread you're being norty and changing acronyms!

Is there any way And or someone else could walk alongside you, to the left of Jak, with Sam? Or maybe you could lead Jak (to the right), with Sam on your left, as part of training? One idea in my mind is using a target stick to walk him with (minus Jak!), so that he follows that, regardless of which side he's on. Maybe use a schooling whip as the 'target' (so that it's transerable to ridden work, later). Those are my bumbling thoughts!

Hi Diane

ha ha, now you're being boring!! I do confess to taking a bit of a suck it and see approach but that was why I chose the route I did as it had a road-free escape route if I'd needed it. Sam's normally fine being led either side, and I double-checked that today. It was just when I was on Jak. So yes, next step of the shaping plan is to avoid roads while we practice leading on my left. But I have some good fittening routes which avoid roads to use in the meantime!

Catherine

Go for it Catherine! Suck it and see is a relaxed approach

Are you politely saying I'm getting old???? I suppose I do have more gardening books than horse books, these days...

Ha ha - I guess gardening books have the appeal that you're less likely to be encouraged to punish your garden by making it think it put the pressure on itself! Maybe I can blame my garden for creating too many caterpillars. OK so maybe I'm getting old too!

Yup, despite what I may say about shaping, and not flooding either you or your animals, "suck it and see" is generally my preferred approach if I can get away with it!

Eeeeek, I just did another SMAR goal and went for a run with Sam (and without even borrowing Jak when I got tired). Some might say I had lots of rests, I call it interval training. Either way, it was great for Sam's heel and recall as he obviously felt he wanted to stay close if I was going to bugger off more quickly than usual!

Catherine

"Some might say I had lots of rests, I call it interval training."

Tee hee - it's called an 'Irishman's rest' .... you know... when you have to stop and blow your nose... even if you don't really need to!!