Bitless hack.....

Well we hacked her out in the bitless bridle today, and for the most part she was fine. First canter though, she put in a couple of bucks, I suspect because Ali wanted me to go first just in case the brakes failed and Missy is used to going first and didn't want to be behind Chester!

She is definitely harder to stop with no bit, and when she pulled too much, the bosal tightened so Ali had to loosen it off, she is just as argumentative without a bit, but I suspect that will never change.....

Here's some video:

We practised Ches going off ahead and her walking and vice versa, after that first canter she soon settled down.

Got some nice pics.....

Went through a field of felled trees to give them a bit of footwork practise, Fina picked her way delicately through, Ches just yomped over everything

On the way back we went through the middle of the village and were talking to someone by the main road, several huge lorries went thundering past and she was a bit worried but seemed to take her cue from Ches, who didn't turn a hair.....

and he was very interested in the Percheron girls again....!

Gandalf's new job......

Poor old Gandalf, as if having to do his first 'proper' dressage test today wasn't enough, which is here by the way,  Ali decided she'd like to do some jumping too....

I have no idea if he's ever jumped before (although when we're out in the woods he'll happily jump a puddle rather than get his poor ickle feet wet ) and at first he didn't seem too keen:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vpK7h957emo

Then she got a bit more speed up and he decided it was pointless making an effort when there's all that space to avoid it.......

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NJQw9u3vCvQ

After a few more goes, he made a bit more of an effort:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gtprhBaXBxM

And eventually got the idea!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0rR5EIPmoDA

All very good for his weight loss programme

Still, won't sign him up for an international showjumping career just yet......