I really need to get into the habit of writing these entries the night I get home from riding. Otherwise I'll get lazy and there will be huge gaps like these! Things have been up and down with Spree, and based on the feedback I've gotten from the Horse Forum, I've been working hard on my own position while trying to keep her steady in her gaits. She's been a huge pill about standing still for anything (grooming, saddling, mounting, etc) and I've been too lax and let her get away with it. We just did groundwork on Sunday, because I felt she needed a refresher course on how to be a lady.
I went out last night with a really positive attitude. I was really soft in my approach with her, and she responded. I don't know if it was her mood, the weather, the fact that's she'd been ridden a lot the day before or what, but it was an all-around great day. I decided not to lunge first, just to see where her attitude was without it. I brought the tack out, and tied her inside. Mind you, I haven't done this maybe but once or twice. She stood totally quietly, even falling asleep while I untangled the burrs from her mane. Very sweet. She stood well for grooming, and I was able to keep Chance out so she didn't bother her. As we tacked up outside, she did try to circle while I was putting the saddle on, but a few sharp pops to the lead rope had her standing still. The bridle was very effortless; an improvement over the fight she's been putting up lately. She did seem antsy after I had her completely tacked up, so I lunged her in a circle around me until she would stand. Maybe 1-2 minutes tops.
Her moving while I'm trying to mount has gotten annoying beyond belief, so as I was standing on the platform and she was in a good position, I just put the reins over her head, nothing more. If she tried to move, I told her to stand, bring her back with the inside rein. Repeat until she got it. Then I took her mane in my hands, same process. She stood well at one point, but still walked on the minute my butt touched the saddle. We need to work on that next. I actually had to hop back off because her saddle was too far back on her back, but fixing the saddle and hopping back on happened in a jiffy.
Our ride was fantastic! I'm so happy about it. I am realizing that I really do need to be working in all 3 gaits every time I ride, because walking the entire time will help improve my seat there but won't help me learn at the others. After we warmed up, I did some circling and trotting, working on keeping her collected and working on my posting. I can't see what my form looks like, which is unfortunate, but my hands felt soft. When we worked on her canter she definitely hops into a fast one at first, but after we made some big looping circles she slowed down nicely. I definitely bounced all over the place at a few different points at the trot and canter, but as we kept practicing I felt better and more secure. I didn't feel like my feet were flying forward at the canter like they have before either.
I won't know for sure if my form in all gaits is improving until I can have someone take pictures again, but it was so much fun. She was such a good girl from start to finish. She also didn't take off immediately after I untacked her either. I don't want to assume it's because we're finally forming a relationship, but it would be sweet if that were the case. I'll be back out on Wednesday!
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