I was sick all last week and didn't do anything with Rory. Today was the first time in a while I had him out. It was late afternoon and there were other people around making noises outside the arena. Rory's not used to it and found them a little distracting at times. He was also full of beans since the footing isn't great outside. I saddled up and we went out to the arena. I finally remembered to take my side reins out to the barn and I put them on Rory today. We started without the side reins just to get the longe refresher. Rory walked and trotted on command, then something got his back up and he started to buck. The first couple were pretty decent jumps up into the air that probably would have unseated me had I been riding, but as he lost forward momemtum he ended up just bouncing up and down on one spot. I sent him forward again at the trot and he settled down. He tried to start bucking again a minute later, but I was quicker to pull him in and send him forward again so he only got a couple of bucks in. Once he was paying attention, mostly, I halted him and attached the side reins to his halter.
Rory took a couple of steps of walk, then slowed down as he poked his nose forward and felt the restriction of the side reins. I encouraged him to walk forward and he found that his normal head carriage didn't pull on his nose. The trot went okay as well, and I found it was easier to keep him on the circle when he got a bit quick. I think the outside rein helped. A couple of times Rory really lifted his back and arched his neck for a few strides, but he didn't hold it for long. There's always another noise to distract him. I found it a little frustrating, but on reflection it's coming at a good stage of training for him to learn that he does have to listen to me first even when there are distractions.
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