Jack was SO good today. We had 3 short sessions in blustery gales with leaves blowing everywhere and acorns and bits of twig falling on us from above, and he stayed soft and relaxed the whole time, except for one small spook where he circled around me but never even thought of pulling away, and that was at the start of the 1st session. He SO wants to stay with me now, and wants to be brave, that I think (at least I hope) that he quite likes me taking a slightly more assertive role now, and distracting him from his fears. All the potentially explosive tension that used to be there when he was worried (and especially when he was worried and I took a contact on the rein) has gone and I no longer feel that if something makes him jump he might mow me down any second, when he's between me and the bales.

He is such a lovely, soft, kind, willing, civilised horse to be with when he can hold his nerve. He was my hero today!!!!!