I include below a You Tube video of Mikey from today. Brushed him off first and he’s almost all the way free of his winter coat now. Dabbed a little fly spray UNDER his eyes.  He correctly “targeted” five cones in succession—it took a while because a couple of times he took a break and would stare out across the fence. I also did my “six shooter”movement with my fingers to ask him to back. He earned clicks and treats for all these things. Then worked on asking him to step sideways with his front legs, then his hinds to small taps of the whip. I try to just use 2 taps. I also played with asking him to lower his head to taps on his crest (eventually I will. just use a slightly cupped hand and “clapping” on the side of his neck in the same rhythm).  He does not like lowering his head (you know about this…unless it is HIS idea!).  I was intrigued to notice that the moment we were done with the clicker stuff and I had taken off his halter, he immediately left me and went more towards the mid area of his paddock. Normally he follows me to his gate to say “goodbye” to me.  This time, he’d had enough!  Not upset about anything in particular but he had a lot to process.  Earlier we had only done 2 cones in succession, I believe.  You will notice he stayed mentally engaged the whole time, though…but today once we were done he was ready to be on his own time, own turf!

Here’s the 17-minute link for You Tube: (the “action” starts about a minute into it): 

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7oidbbydlcE

 
Duchess: a lot more transitions, cantering and such...in and out (spirals) and the NOOR exercise (suppling the hips and shoulders from the ground)