This year's Whole Horse Weekend was once again very generously hosted by Nick Sanders of Rowanoak Livery and Learning Centre near Brecon (www.rowanoakhorses.co.uk). It was also once again for charity, this year the very deserving Horseworld from Bristol (www.horseworld.org.uk).

I had a really lovely time presenting and participating in demonstrations and Horse Agility (http://www.thehorseagilityclub.com/), as well as witnessing one of my clients become the Welsh Horse Agility Champion! Well done Jo and Punka!!!!

Horse Agility is a new and fast growing horse sport. A little mix of dog agility (but with a horse!) and TREC type obstacles, it's conducted from the ground. In the beginning competitors are expected to lead their horse, but at the higher levels the lead rope is done away with and the horse is at liberty.

To do well at HA you need good horsemanship skills to set your horse up for each obstacle, and an effective way of motivating your horse to perform willingly when the rope is gone. Jo uses clicker training to help Punka's performance. The clicker marks correct behaviour, indicating to the horse that he's just earned a treat. The promise of treats tends to help most horses stay on board with agility once the lead rope is gone. One lady at the show told me that Punka appeared to be the horse that was enjoyng agility most, that he really looked like he was playing, not simply going through the motions... that's clicker for you!

Of course Punka also had his comedy turn on the first morning of the event. He broke out of his pen to go and introduce himself to everyone else, horse and human. As he was gaily trotting about the camping field screams of panic went up! Punka looks a lot like Nick's stallion Ollie!

I'm really looking forward to next year's Whole Horse Weekend now, and I hope you all are too! Keep updated with WHW 2012 on facebook: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=214316521939641

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