It warmed up yesterday and I rode! Miracle upon miracles! I rode Mia over to a nearby field where we did a short flat school. She was SOOOO excited to get out of the pasture and see some different scenery! Let's just say she felt quite fresh and I was very proud of remaining mounted in my very old, no knee rolled Crosby! We had to do a bit of a refresher course since it has been so long since I'd last schooled her. Her biggest fault is that she wants to RUN around on the forehand in typical QH fashion. Several half-halts later, we ended our session with her trotting and cantering in a steady tempo on the contact with a few steady transitions thrown in. I was thrilled! I was patient with her enthusiasm and instead of getting frustrated, I recognized that underneath her quickness she was really trying hard to understand what I wanted. She is a SUPER smart horse with an amazing work ethic. My job will be to keep showing her what I want with consistancy and patience. For example, "Bend around my leg. No, don't go faster from my inside leg, just bend" or "Take contact with the bit. Yes, but not that low. Keep the contact but bring your poll up" or "Cantering rhythmically, good! Now, bring your hind legs underneath yourself more."
When we got home I could have ridden Flo, but I decided to clean Mia up. I pulled her mane and banged her tail and brought out the metal shedder. Yes, she is shedding! That means spring is coming, right?!? Yay! I haven't totally decided to do with her tail. Months ago she had rubbed the top of her tail and looked horrible so I shaved both the top and sides of it. It didn't look bad all shaved and tidy, but it didn't look good. It didn't suit her at all. Now it is all grown out and looks shaggy. I could leave it, but since I'm planning on showing her this season, I need to do something with it. I'm scared! I pulled some of it yesterday, but it doesn't pull easily like Flo's. I might shave the sides but I don't want to shave it as far down on the sides as I did the first time. I'm afraid that might look funny with three lengths of tail: shaved, shaggy then long. Hm. Maybe I will post a picture and get your opinions. I also experimented with letting her entire bridle path grow out. I saw a video on Horse Hero where some riders horses didn't have a bridle paths because they liked the way the braids looked better without one.
I have to work on Flo next. I'm having the same issues with her tail and mane. I'm trying to grow out some of it where I feel like I shaved it too much. I let part of her bridle path grow out over the winter and I'm hoping that it is long enough to put into a braid with some of the normal lengthed mane. I love getting my horses pretty!
When we got home I could have ridden Flo, but I decided to clean Mia up. I pulled her mane and banged her tail and brought out the metal shedder. Yes, she is shedding! That means spring is coming, right?!? Yay! I haven't totally decided to do with her tail. Months ago she had rubbed the top of her tail and looked horrible so I shaved both the top and sides of it. It didn't look bad all shaved and tidy, but it didn't look good. It didn't suit her at all. Now it is all grown out and looks shaggy. I could leave it, but since I'm planning on showing her this season, I need to do something with it. I'm scared! I pulled some of it yesterday, but it doesn't pull easily like Flo's. I might shave the sides but I don't want to shave it as far down on the sides as I did the first time. I'm afraid that might look funny with three lengths of tail: shaved, shaggy then long. Hm. Maybe I will post a picture and get your opinions. I also experimented with letting her entire bridle path grow out. I saw a video on Horse Hero where some riders horses didn't have a bridle paths because they liked the way the braids looked better without one.
I have to work on Flo next. I'm having the same issues with her tail and mane. I'm trying to grow out some of it where I feel like I shaved it too much. I let part of her bridle path grow out over the winter and I'm hoping that it is long enough to put into a braid with some of the normal lengthed mane. I love getting my horses pretty!