Back in the saddle:)

• started off by tying tallic up to the float (which is still in the paddock due to the house reno's) whilst giving nicole a lesson on joe (who did very well today: steadier/more stable leg position, concnetrated on keeping her hands together and bend at the elbow. got that left canter lead happening by doing lots of serpentines across the arena, lots of change in bend/direction and keeping her hands together, partic. at point of canter deaprt)
• did some float loading to follow-on from yesterday. not quite as good to start with. need to concentrate on making sure he is straight and correctly aligned for entry. took the passenger breeching door out to give me better access. improvements when: talking to him; on float with him; backwards forwards repetition got lightness.
• got tallic to go backwards and forwards within the float today. if he goes out of his own accord, tried to keep the pressure on, i stay in float and hold til he comes forward off pressure
• learnt that light tap taps work well, but will beef them up if he's running backwards or being rude
• tied him up to the float again and went and got his saddle etc. learning to stand at float ok. nicole said he had one go at pulling back, then gave up. paws ground occassionally.
• saddles up well, went over to round yard for some ground work. tied him up in there and got my riding gear.
• had a practise of walking and trotting with bridle. made sure his 'stops' were good. fwd was good, but cranky at trot (march flies are terrible!!)
• nicole held my opposite stirrup and i mounted him. walked off well, stopped well.
• trot - well, what can i say - cranky pants decided to test my bronc riding abilities didn't he!! we started with some humpty dumpty work, and followed it up with a rear!!! i think poor nicole might have gained some grey hairs today - sorry! darren saw it from the office, but wasn't fussed because i seemed not fussed, and, tallic didn't continue with this crappy behaviour, we went forward on onward:)
• NEED TO REMEMBER NOT TO KEEP SQUEEZING HARDER IF HE DOESN'T GO FWD! I NEED TO GO 'TAP TAP' INSTEAD. i think tallic gets grumpy when i squeeze, i must remember to use light aids, and if i don't get the desired response, tap with the whip.
• tallic responds to use of voice, so he got growled at when rearing and bucking, but told 'good boy' when responding appropriately
• did a few laps each way with some walk trot transisitions. stopped on good note. he HATES march flies etc, but will let me wave the whip over his butt - how cute!!