Motoring along on a loose rein
On Saturday, Amy Jo came down to help me feed and turn in. Then she met Bonita and took some photos while we rode outside for the second time. I replace the regular cavesson with one with side rings. I wanted to ride two reined, one on the snaffle and the other on the cavesson. The last time I rode her with just the snaffle, she pulled and started to get hard in the mouth. I want her to stay light, while she is learning how to respond. This works quite well for that, as it is a slow transition from what she knows (cavesson/sidepull) to what is new (snaffle).
This shows the two rein setup
Nice relaxed walk
So today was a little bit of a challenge, but a very good under saddle session. She does fall in on her shoulder going to the right, so that’s something to work on. I started asking her to yield her hind end from leg cues. She got a step on each side, so that’s a beginning. I also spent some time riding on the buckle and on a loose rein at the trot. She is nicely forward in both gaits, which is very refreshing. And she still stops dead on a breath out or Whoa. Not a bad eleventh ride!
Thank you, Amy Jo, for taking such nice photos.
She looks great Simrat, the sidepull and snaffle is a good idea. Over here we do a similar thing but use an Iberian caveson with a bit. The sidepull and bit looks a better idea, she looks lovely and relaxed, what an excellent job you’ve done.
Thanks, Julie. She’s been really fun to work with. She learns quickly and is pretty level headed.
Thank you, Simrat, for letting me tag along and join you Saturday night. That mare has filled me with something none of the other horses has – I don’t know what it is. I love her energy, I appreciate her relationship with you, and I adore alertness and attention to detail. I hope and pray for the most loving, respectful, lifetime home for this girl … Bonita,Kay, and you deserve for Bonita’s life to be rich and respectful. I am shutting my mouth now! XOXOXOXO
I like your idea of the sidepull plus snaffle. Linda Tellington-Jones does that a lot. She really looks beautiful, and your accounts of the way she goes make her sound like the perfect horse in the making!
I certainly do hope that she finds a good home that can take her along more in her training. If I didn’t have Paisano coming home in a couple of weeks, I would likely keep her a while longer.