21st Feburary 2010

Well, today is Day 1 of Charlot's training (or is it re-training again!) and he got off to a good start.

Easy to catch, once in the school and Jo did his feet very matter-of-factly. He didn't mind and so we did some lungeing, where he sped around in his good trot not really listening to anyone. At one stage he had 5 little Shetland ponies following him at liberty but once taken out of the picture, Charlot started to concentrate and listen to commands.

Charlot is still very sensitive. He lunges looking at your body language to react to. The slightest movement and he will try and interpret it somehow, either changing direction, standing still or jumping 6 foot upwards. Silly boy.

He needs to work now and stop dining out on his nerves. We are bored of them. He is getting very appreciative of having his head scratched but when we touched his back, he jumped in alarm and we laughed at him. I think he needs a terrier to sit and go to sleep on his back. It will be arranged a bit later on!

Really with some de-sensitizing, Charlot will make a lovely little pony. He is much more relaxed in the field, enjoying the sun on his back with no rug and has fluffed up beautifully. When he is with nervous ponies, he tends to latch on to them and copy their behaviour. This herd are quietly confidant, each wanting attention so he watches them now!

Jo was pleased with him so she picked up all his feet one more time, one at a time, and he was very relaxed about it all.