Monday 21st March 2011 -

Cilla - Worked her on the lines on Friday and all was good with the world.  I did a lot of lateral flexion, hoping to break down some of the brace we found in the neck the day before and it seemed to work. Petra came on Saturday to work on the tightness in the hamstrings . . . shame we didn't have a camera as there was quite a lot of reaction to the pulse but she settled in to it and as it worked deeper she actually started to grunt.

I'd like to make a point about introducing new things: Anything that is new to the horse, especially when dealing with a horse in pain, needs to start slowly with a rub. Even trying to get the contact disc, without a pulse, on to Cilla's hamstring was a challenge. However, after she was allowed to move a round a bit it became easier. After 2 - 3 turns around, she started to soften up and let me tip her nose in and so long as he kept crossing her back legs over didn't seem too worried. We introduced the lowest pulse possible and continued to tip the nose and cross the back feet and again after 2 - 3 turns around she responded well and stood still. As the pulse increased, I let Cilla continue to move her back feet and kept the nose tipped in a little. Just to be clear, it wasn't a drift that would have ended up in her leaving or a try to leave entirely - it was just the need to keep moving in a controlled way to keep her relaxed. It worked well and she responded well and then the grunting started as the pulse increased and I think she was actually feeling the tightness in the hamstrings dissipating. So, my point is this: better to let the horse move around in a controlled way than start a battle that will eventually end up with them finding the fire exit. 

Secret - let him have a quick warm up on the long line and we saddled up. The ride to the excersise track was uneventful (we like this) and the very relaxed canter and trot around was a good start. We checked out a few transitions, trot to walk, walk to canter, canter to trot and the feet a definitely freeing up more - I'd like to see these transitions a bit snappier in the next 2 weeks. There are so many improvements in him in such a short time frame that he has definitely deserved his day off!

The work that Petra has done on his near side glute and off side shoulder seems to be paying off too. So much so, that we added a little counter flex in both direction and had the back feet anchoring well. I'm really pleased with the changes we have seen in Secret over this first fortnight. He is holding himself in a much better shape and has found a willingness to work lighter and more correctly. I think the photo from Thursday says it all with the rounded back and vertical head carriage as we took a few steps.