3's a charm

[diaryofarider]

Had yet another good ride last night. I'm scared to go on vacation. When I come back will this horse go *poof* and be back to his resistant old self? Will I be back to my resistant old self? (I need to quit looking for trouble, then maybe I will have a better chance of not finding it :D). The problem with the right lead is still there. It just seems so much more...overcomeable? Okay, so that's not a word- but I am feeling more hopeful about licking that problem. I thought it was a matter of time and I started to worry because I've been riding him for 9 mos now, and he's still usually only 50 - 70% on the right lead transitions. I'm sitting better and I'm more correct now, and that gives me confidence. I'm also FEELING things more and more, even though it comes and goes sometimes. Pretty soon I think I'm going to be able to feel that exact shift of weight or tense of muscle and be able to counter it. I'm finally able to tell what lead he's on most of the time right off the bat-- It took such a long time to get that skill back with Phoebus- I used to have it on almost any horse and I hope I will again.
It's uplifting to have things overall get so much better. He's much lighter and more responsive and more willing. These things that we could not do before are suddenly not difficult because he's carrying himself in the hind end, and he doesn't seem to resent it so much. I don't know if it's from Peggy riding him or me turning a corner, or him getting stronger, but it's so nice. I just hope he'll be like this when I come back, because I think it will make the clinic more fun and more productive.