HM today: got Miss Bailey (going into heat, but caught her, she needed a pop on the butt to lead 'tho, but she did it. Janice was suprised that I got her so fast!)
1st: oblong pen: got about 20 min lesson of "stalking" 'till she joined up, then lounging on the lead rope (only 2nd time I've done that; can't practice that at home, lol, will need real-time practice). Got on, & she paid me no never mind whatsoever, so worked on moving her to the rail..had trouble with that, she didn't want to listen & I was trying too hard. Janice asked if I wanted her to be on the lunge-line & I think I got "fear of canter" in my face (Janice 'reads" extremely well) so we went to the smaller rounder pen.
Aah. Much better. I think it's still a comfort zone for me, & that's okay...is what it is 'till it's not. Was easier to get her to the rail & get her attention, so got her into the trot. Did ok, but went bouncing more than I liked. Stopped her & expressed frustration. Janice said I TRY too hard to be "right". (She also said Bailey is no push-button, she's a goer; I just need to sit her trot with CONFIDENCE, know where I want to go, & take her there). Janice was blunt (love that!), said "Don't be timid, don't be a passenger, she wants a RIDER!"
Dang. So..I worked on that, or rather,LET myself do it. Ladona! I SANG! Once I started to do that, something big clicked & I eventually did 2-3 full circles at a fast trot (Janice said I was nearly at posting trot speed). Plus, I could tell when her body started to slow & I could cluck her back up into it. We did this both directions.
And, this is funny: the song that popped into my head was that silly old jingle "I wish I was an Oscar Meyer weiner"; it worked!! Bailey loved it, ears back on me & enjoying her trot! I started to laugh, in between singing, it was so funny! I was laughing & singing so much that I lost my left stirrup & in the middle of the trot said to Janice "oops! lost my stirrup!", slowed Bailey to a walk then stop. Janice almost had her mouth hanging open, lol; she said "Before this, if you'd lost a stirrup, you would've paniced!" Oh...yup, I would've.
Anyway...I sat her trot better than ever, turned directions in mid-trot, kept her attention because I was happy & she liked the feeling of my being good w/everything (& the singing, I think she like the song, too).
Almost 2 hours of lessons, you'all. I did good. Janice said when I was untacking that she didn't want to try the canter again just yet, but wanted me back on the horse that it was tried on. That works, I needed that.
She was happy that I finally was smiling (long time coming). I've really needed to lighten up with life in general, & the Horse is taking me there. All is good.
Hope all have enjoyed this segment of HorseMonday. The program will be moving to the available HorseFriday while the rider is in emtb-class thru mid-March. Tentative schedule is Friday Feb 20, barring weather, lesson approx 12noon (instructor is booked Feb 6, rider has another weapons qualify on Feb 13).
Smiley face smiley face..!!!