Well today was a good day. We brought everyone into the school to do some basic training in leading, wearing harness, etc. Charlot is with 3 others to be trained and so everyone was caught, tied up, brushed and their feet cleaned out.
He has been wearing a rug 24/7 and living out in the snow, but is looking in good shape and just right for coming into spring.
So, I brushed his mane and tail and various muddy bits and Jo did his feet. Absolutely no problem. He offered his fronts and there was no issue with the backs!
Jo put on his harness while I took photos and bless him, Charlot even picked up a front foot when she was looking for the girth to do up!
Jo did some long-reining in harness and Charlot settled quickly into his work, walking past his friends without napping and had a lovely trot too. We are training him with no blinkers as he likes to know what is going on before he is happy with what we do. He is trusting us more and more, which is lovely.
After the long-reining, Jo removed his harness and he remained tied-up while we started another. In the meantime, I decided it was time he was backed so I plonked Be-Anne, my terrier, on his back. Jo talked to him, while I picked up Be-Anne, introduced her and put her on his back. Charlot didn't mind at all. With one ear back, he stood calmly stood there wondering what mad scheme we would do next!
