Lesson Coma

[dancinghorse]

Lesson Coma. No Airs. We were very good about staying on the ground and doing our homework and working in hand and finding our corners under saddle. Also, unreeling the miles of snaky dragony neck and finding the poll at the other end. She does like to curl up in the middle. Often while crossing her legs fore and aft. With me on her.

Gumby horse. Never even hints at falling down, which is good. She has nice natural balance.

Lightbulb moment for me: Not getting frustrated when we ground to a halt. We're finally seeing that as a pause to ask and answer questions, instead of Oh Noes We've Fallen Out Of Orbit Now We'll Crash AAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!

Every new horse I ride, I learn something new. This one is teaching me I can too ride all the things I used to think I couldn't stand (stopping when confused and then growing roots, blowing up when even slightly off balance, demanding even more than the usual precision in calibration and positioning of aids).

Also, she has absolutely adorable ears.

Comments

[ranunculus.livejournal.com]

I love exploring with a new partner. So different than every other. I'm just starting a 3+ yr old mustang filly who reminded me forcibly yesterday that it is a two way conversation. Today she was an angel, if a bit confused about a couple of things. I'm so looking forward to many years with this young lady.

The last outing with a horse taught me that sometimes quitting and sending him to a new owner is a blessing for all involved.....

[dancinghorse.livejournal.com]

Sometimes that happens, too. It has to me.

Then again, I expected Ephiny to be a sale horse. She said Absolutely Not.

Best of luck with your filly!

[green-knight.livejournal.com]

YAY.

One of the hardest lessons for me was that some young horses have a processing pause - you give an aid, nothing happens, and _then_ it reaches the brain. It's all too tempting to fill that gap, to aid more, to demand a reaction NOW - but no. Silence, stepping back, letting them sort it. And I'd much rather a horse that stopped when confused than one that exploded...

[dancinghorse.livejournal.com]

She used to explode. Progress!

[puddleshark.livejournal.com]

...Also, unreeling the miles of snaky dragony neck and finding the poll at the other end...

*snorts*

This is such a lovely post. Thank you. How I miss my stuffy old girl and her "I-am-a-compact-cob-I-cannot-possibly-lengthen".

[dancinghorse.livejournal.com]

Thank you. And sympathies on the loss of your mare.