It's been a long while since I posted an update, and I feel very special that several folks have asked for one

As expected, we've had good days, great days, and really bad days. When I've hit a stumbling block I spend the next day or two doing groundwork where I can more effectively address the problem (like not moving off my right leg). The next ride is always SO much improved! I'm sure a better rider could address things just as effectively through a ride, but that's why they are the better riders

We still haven't cantered. Well, unless you count the 3 strides as she was leaping away from whoknowswhatthatwasgettingreadytoeather But she's not ready to canter. If she can't maintain a steady trot for at least 75% of the ride, it's not time.

But we HAVE improved, believe it or not! I have to spend a good 15-20 minutes of walk work - walk, halt, stand there, lots of changes of direction, not riding the rail, basically nothing very predictable - before she is mentally ready to move to the trot. I thought I had her pegged one day after about 8 minutes of doing those things at the walk, but nope, we ended up with a pretty awful ride with lots of head in the air. She gives me more physical signs now, like a HUGE sigh and lots of lip licking/chewing. Then I know she's mentally come to me.

About a week ago she started giving me a slow trot right off the bat. It's not that she necessarily keeps it, but prior to that all trot work started out fast

We have almost mastered our fear of the shady side of the ring. Almost I discovered a couple of weeks ago that the footing of screenings is not as hard as one would think It was entirely my fault. The earlier I ride, the deeper the shadows in the woods, and the more of the ring is shaded as well. Get *just* enough shaded ring, with deeply shaded woods, contrasted with the brightly lit rest of the ring, combine that with the black end of the corrugated pipe peeking out from the white sleeve over it, add one hefty dash of the rider herself looking down there along with the horse and when said horse jumps 10' to the left, it's nearly impossible for said rider to stay on. Good thing I picked out my landing spot But, she's learned to trust me enough that she only ran about 3/4 of the way around the ring before stopping and waiting for me to rescue her. I got back on, rode a few more minutes (was already late for work), and called it a day.

OMG was I sore the next day from what seemed like an innocuous fall! I'm pretty sure my shoulder temporarily dislocated. It still bothers me today. No, hubby does NOT know, as he was out of town that day and I don't want him to worry needlessly. She didn't do anything that I shouldn't have been able to stay on for, she never has. I was entirely at fault for putting myself off balance. Oh well...

But in the meantime we've been working on desensitizing in the ring. This means I tied *gasp* feed bags to posts! Her groundwork around them is fine now. She gives them the Big Fat Hairy Eyeball, but does little more than a sidestep if one blows as she passes right next to it. The confidence isn't quite there yet under saddle, so that's coming up in the Parelli progression - driving her from more behind instead of leading her. She has to learn how to deal with these things without me there. But, baby steps - 6 months ago if this had happened she'd probably STILL be running around the ring LOL

For the past 2-3 weeks after she's worked a bit on each ride she has offered some REALLY nice uphill walking, seeking contact with the bit, ears all floppy. And for the last week or so she's started getting into that at the trot as well, and doing it at the walk even sooner. She still has such a lot of muscle to build that she just isn't strong enough to carry herself for very long, and mentally she's still figuring out that it's OK to relax.

She leg yields (right better than left) and can do baby shoulder in on a circle. She has a similar issue to my WB in that she likes to carry her haunches in going right, so while I wasn't smart enough to catch that early enough with my WB (I thought it was his shoulder he was crooked with ) I'm trying to fix her issue early so we get that out of the way.

So, that's that for now. I'll try to be a little more regular next time Thanks for reading!