Another quick update

I had my coaching call with Julia today and we talked about Dublin leaving me at liberty. She suggested not putting pressure on him when he does that, just following him and letting him assume the leadership role. So tonight when I brought him off pasture, we went in the arena and tried it for a few minutes. Really works! I put him at liberty, he followed my lead for a bit and then took off. I've been trying to make that uncomfortable for him by putting pressure on him, but this time I just quietly followed him to the corner he picked and when he looked at me, I stopped. In a few moments, he left the corner to come to me! Then he followed me at liberty again, going from walk to trot to stop to back-up. He even matched me at the canter for a few steps, and then jumped the barrels (I trotted around the barrels. I ain't no long-legged Thoroughbred!). We quit on that high note. Fun!