What to do when you see a goat?

Hack out today was a really enjoyable one, even though we came across all the following things: 

- a barking Alsatian threatening to 'attack'
- peacocks
- a goat 
- race horses and jockeys
- a fly-tipped mattress
- man driving a lawn mower
- people playing tennis
- two Bearded Collies barking at us
- one cyclist
- and a few pumpkin lanterns, plus other Halloween paraphenalia.

Only the attacking Alsatian by this turkey farm and then the goat on the roadside caused Rainbow to be nervous, and I had to push her on. 

The goat was standing on the side of the road (not a busy one), eating from the bushes and when we approached, it said a goaty 'baa' hello to us midst munch. Rainbow was head up and unsure (tbh I was a bit unsure and worried she might whip around, as she doesn't like sheep and thought a goat might just blow her mind) so I spoke to her and pushed her forward. We were just coming up a hill, so turning back wasn't an option really. But R was fine in the end, she went past, looking at the goat, took a few trotting steps but I wasn't fussed, as I decided it was better that we went past than start stopping or turning around.

On the big hill up, I made Rainbow working in an outline. I had read about it in the latest Your Horse magazine. Helping horse develop their tummy muscles (which will also help with creating the power in the hind and thus making them work better through their backs): 

"When you're doing hillwork, stick to walk and – provided it's safe to do so – come up a little out of the saddle and take your hands forwards and wide. Keeping your reins in this side rein position will really benefit your horse. Work him in this shape, then add a hill, and it'll really encourage him to pick his back up."

I hope it worked for Rainbow. The hill we went up is quite steep and long, so she was huffing and puffing, clearly getting a bit tired. She tried to broke into trot a couple of times, perhaps to save herself, but I kept in walk, giving her a good workout. The rest of the hack we mainly walked, only doing a couple of trots.