Last week I had the absolute privilege to have @Zoë Coade with us in person. The amount of knowledge she bestowed upon us is just unreal. As a first-time horse owner who is just figuring everything out - it meant so much to me to have Zoe actually showing me what I need to work on with Blackie. I am an introverted people - pleaser - so I did find it difficult to give my horse CLEAR instructions. Obviously this turned into some less than ideal learnt reactions from him. After working with Zoe I went through a lot in my head - 'Am I capable to do this?', 'I am scared'' , 'what if...'. But I sucked it up and I got to work yesterday - focusing on the signals I am sending out and what I am projecting and the results was amazing!!!!! Last week I was unable to get my horse out of the stable to the ring - yesterday he hesitated and. with the tools Zoe gave me, we were out of there in no time. Last week I couldn't bring a saddle pad up to my horse without him lashing out at me - Yesterday I saddled up my horse ( with a big old trail saddle - with a girth and a bucking belt) with no push back from him. I can't believe the difference this is making in my life. I am now super motivated to grow in myself and I am super excited about the connection I am building with my horse.

We have 2 new horses at the stables - both neighboring with Blackie. When I take him out of his stable we also need to pass by 3 other horses. I have noticed that this a pretty stressful situation for him. He was always fine with passing them - but more recently I have been struggling a bit. The day before yesterday I took him out - but we struggled for almost 9 minutes on a 60m walk- he just refused to move. I aplied pressure with my lead rope ( fixed onto his rope halter) and ïnvited him to follow me. When he took a step I softened immediately - until we were out of the stables. Upon returning - he stopped at one mare and tried to hack at her with his front hoof. Yesterday I came in prepared to have a struggle again with getting him out of the stable. Instead he was out of there super fast! Whinnying and his energy was a bit confrontational? I just pushed ahead and he followed me out ( put at quite a pace). All of the horses ( 6 horses in total - 4 geldings and 2 mares) go out together into the field everyday and they seem to be doing fine? During training he would also just stop and start neighing to the other horses? He was not part of a herd for almost 10 years - but has been with 3 of the horses since December when we bought him. But he used to graze alone. Now with the extra 2 it seems that he is struggling a bit.