“Hi Marijke,

I have an observation which I’d like your opinion on.
My horse was quite good, calm, attentive the first few days of straightness training (never doing more than 20 minutes total each time, and sticking to the first three ‘keys’ exercises) but the last two sessions he’s got quite resistant, sometimes saying NO very loudly. Do you think it could be because his muscles are starting to feel the new work and are a bit stiff? Like we do when we go to the gym for the first times? I do try to vary the exercises and do lots of other things in between straightness exercises to help him not get cramps or feel too sore. Should I just gently insist? Or give him more time between sessions? He is out in a large paddock most days and has a big stable with his own small paddock to move about in, so he isn’t getting stiff standing still.

Thanks for your thoughts and experience on this.

Susan”