Loading training continues

I want to be able to load and unload Rubi by myself so that we can start getting out and about on our own, as we like. For that, he really needs to be happy to walk on to the trailer himself, stand relaxed at the front by himself while I put up the butt bar and then wait in relaxed mode while I unload him at the end of the journey. So, Rubi now has every breakfast and supper plus a slice of hay in the trailer. This morning I just pointed him up the ramp, he saw his bucket at the front of the trailer and I allowed him to walk on the trailer while I stayed outside. He had a slight hesitation as I stopped at the top of the ramp as if to say 'oo, should I go in without you?' but then he marched on. He stood there happily munching on his food and hay while I put up the bar and walked back to his head to tie him. And then he spent about 20 mins in there, finished his breakfast and started munching on his hay while I fed and hayed the other horses.

Here's the Good Boy munching away earlier in the week.

Rubi gets a new saddle

We finally gave up on the Fhoenix saddle because it just was not going to work for his shape and his asymmetric shoulders, no matter what pads and shimming we used! I had to wait 6 weeks for it to be made but finally his new Free n Easy Endurance Pro Lite saddle arrived and we've been working with Les at FnE to get the adjustments right.

Result = a horse transformed! Really striding out in walk, swinging along in trot and pinging into canter with a heap of enthusiasm - and FAR less spooking!