The last month we've been working on getting Risonho to relax and soften. This has been harder than it sounds. His back is very tight. "Like a brick"according to the massage therapist. This tension causes him to prance forward whenever leg is applied.

For the last week the trainer has been spending a lot of time lunging him. It's been good for me to watch, because I'm getting some good lessons on how to lunge a horse and what the goals. Jesse is using the lunge so the Risonho doesn't have the weight, or have to be concerned about the rider on his back. He's trying to get him to stretch, find his balance, and soften through the use of transitions among other things.

While this has been moderately successful on the lunge line it hasn't yet translated to the rider in the saddle. So, the above mentioned massage therapist worked on him last week. She found him to be very tight in the back, "like a brick," and in the right side of his neck. It's his neck which she think might be the major cause of the problem.

We might be making some progress. Today, Risonho was pretty good in both directions on the lunge line, as well as under saddle.

Next Monday, he has an appointment with the chiropractor. I'm also going to be adding Magnesium Quiessence to his supplements.