(no subject)

[diaryofarider]

Trudi was pretty lovable last night. It's been raining here so we rode inside. She warily faced the cats darting around the aisle, but she snorted a little at the sawhorse in the boogeyman corner (apparantly this is one of the items that's been there forever but somehow contributes to the spookiness of that corner). I just climbed up on it and sat there, did some stretching and before I knew it, I opened my eyes and she had her nose in my lap. ^_^
I petted her and made a big deal out of her, then took her over to the mounting block and proceeded to have a very good ride. She was relaxed but really powerful and responsive. Her back felt fantastic. We did laterals in the walk - shoulder in, volte, haunches in, and I was paying a lot of attention to straightness within the movements as well as on the track, and having all four areas on the horse connected (inside rein, outside rein, inside leg, outside leg). The trot was wonderful- energetic, swinging, stretching, and not at all rushed. We did lots of canter circles to the right where the BC is, and it wasn't perfect but it was an improvement. To the left we started getting some actual collection in the canter and it felt sooo good- no spooking, and so I cooled her out after that- doggone horse acts like a snot and then acts really sweet- she's like a toddler.

Comments

[halfpass-19.livejournal.com]

Sounds like she's really coming along! And just think how much good bonding you're doing with her - getting her over her spookiness is probably just as much about building her trust in you as in herself.

[diaryofarider.livejournal.com]

I really want to believe that. I want to believe there is a horse in there that will someday be brave(r). I think I do believe that (ah, the eternal optimist), and I just really like this darn horse. She is so talented, and physically I think she's developing like gangbusters. But there are definitely times when it's frustrating. I have to remind myself that I can do it, ride through it, and know that things will get better- the blog is nice for that, because I can look back and say "Oh wow, look where we were then- geez, she's come a long way!" :)