Just got an answer back-- Buster is 6, calm, with a bit of hip dysplasia, and they run him. The steep, short flight of stairs to his room will be good muscle-building therapy, as my ass can attest. (More horse praxis applied across species.)

F's "I'm trying" face is supplemented by this body-language (and he is a thread drift too): Back legs trying SO HARD to sit (fold halfway then pop back up, face strains, then try again, while brain sends signal to sit when sit is not wanted... with some agonized twisting thru the mid-section while the signal travels.

When he does that he gets a tone of voice back confirming the command in a firm and soothing tone that sez, "Yes I do mean it and yes I know it's hard and I will try not to put you in this position again." Because when there is another option I prefer the one that he prefers and that he can "give over" into with joy.

His whole orientation on joy is, "I figured out the plan, look, I'll go ahead of you, see, is this right, it is,is,is,IS, isn't it?" And only very occasionally is the answer, "No! Nice try, but sorry, not this time. Look. Look over here-- we want THIS, this time, yesyesyes!"

This year he's learning more and more hand signals. (He asked for them.)

Vizsla Buster, full speed ahead!

~S~