Friday morning Zelador and I entered the arena. Two pigeons were cooing above us. These two are part of a threesome that was rescued by a friend who loves animals. They were brought to the farm a few years ago and turned loose. (Not my first choice as a location for the critters!) Up till now they’ve never ventured beyond the lower barn.

Zelador and I did his liberty work to warm-up. I was focused on him and the pigeons became a thing of the past. To end the liberty session I tried to figure out how to help Zelador perform a few passage steps at the trot. I raised my knees parallel to the ground when I was trotting near him. He got the idea and raised his knees. Perfect!

I got on his back. At this point the pigeons became quite annoying. I rode over to the garrocha pole (over 12 feet long) and picked it up (it was leaning against the wall so I could use it later to spear the ring off the horn of our wooden bull). I rode Zelador to where the pigeons were sitting in the rafters and wiggled the pole at them. They flew away. We followed. When I reached their second location one pigeon left the arena, then returned. Zelador was calmly accepting this latest game and when I was looking for the pigeons’ third roosting place he spotted them first and took me to them. Finally both flew out and did NOT return. As I was riding to the wall to lean the pole against it I had to laugh. Neither Sherlock nor Kye would have allowed me to swing a long pole at the rafters, but the five-year-old Lusitano thought it was great fun! He didn’t put a foot wrong.

On that same note (about the feet) when I brought Zeloso to the arena we walked around together (I was a few feet away from him and not holding onto his Bitless bridle). He stayed beside me and didn’t try to run away and play. Last week our vet did the ultra-sound on Zeloso’s suspensory and we decided it was OK to school Zeloso walking and trotting at liberty. I started this Monday. I’d never worked him at liberty and every time I took a confident (he’ll walk beside me) step forward he danced away. He had two favorite destinations: the half-door that overlooks the farm and the dregs of hay near the exit to the stalls.

Many times I patiently walked to him and encouraged him to come with me. He’d take a few steps, then trot away. Hmmm… I kept sounding cheerful and encouraging. I also had many small pieces of carrot to offer him. Allen Pogue (www.imagineahorse.com) starts liberty work with his horses in a small area (fifteen feet square) and slowly introduces larger areas. I have one indoor site and it’s twenty metres by forty metres…not exactly SMALL.

On Tuesday he actually walked around the entire arena with me in the centre. He didn’t explode and leap about. This was a definite step in the right direction. I called him to me and he came. When he was travelling to the right it took him longer to leave the circle and approach me. Travelling to the left and coming in was no problem.

Wednesday and Thursday he repeated this circuit around the arena. Thursday evening I was wondering if he’d ever walk beside me, then circle around me.

Friday morning I loaded my pockets with bits of carrots and led him to the arena. To my surprise he walked beside me and stopped quietly whenever I stopped. When I backed up and directed him to continue moving, he circled around me. Obviously he decided it was time to quit playing his games at liberty and start playing mine. Whew!

I called him in to me. He was praised and given a treat. I sent him circling the other way. Called him in (treat, praise, etc.) and repeated the sequence. In each direction I asked for three large trot circles around me. He had every opportunity to abandon our exercise and go play.

Saturday Bill was hosing down the arena footing when I brought Zeloso in. Here was an excellent excuse to play, but he stayed with me ninety per-cent of the time and only once trotted away hoping to sneak a look out the arena door.

It will most certainly be interesting to see how things develop this week.