When I was in school last year I didn't ride much and I feel my riding got really sloppy in that time. I haven't felt completely connected with a horse since I took my last lesson almost 2 years ago. Well, that is until today!
Tiffany (FehrGroundRanch) came out today to see the progress I had made with Tana (she's coming along well) and asked if it would be okay if she stuck around to watch me work Maia, so of course I said okay. I was a little nervous just because... well.... there I would be, all flaws exposed! So I got on Maia (who was being a complete dork, she was in heat!) and thought to myself "so, what has changed from two years ago? You know how to ride, you know how to train, you know how to ask this stuff of Maia, what's the problem?!"
So that was that.
I decided that I wasn't going to let my riding slide any more. I was going to work hard on getting myself back to what I used to be when I was showing a couple of years back.
So I had the most amazing ride I've had in a long time. There was nothing special about what I did with Maia at all, but it was the feeling of being completely with her, every stride. (By the way, Tiff just watched my warmup).
I dropped my stirrups, crossed them in front of my saddle and rode. Maia started using her hind end to pick herself up, she started bending through her entire body, and for the first time in the indoor arena, she cantered correctly. She didn't rush. She held a frame. She worked off her hind end.
I only rode for about a half hour, but I actually felt like that half hour made more difference than a week's worth of my riding prior.
I just had to share my revelation!! I feel like I'm on cloud nine!
Cookies for everyone!
Those Ahh Haa moments are priceless!!!!!!! Congrats on the ride! 
