The Savvy Dream: So Much Fun :)

Despite me being a bit sick yet, I went out to play with my wonderful partner today and it turned out to be the greatest thing I could have done. :D We played with quite a few things on the ground, after she had galloped around the arena looking for her friend... lol! :P I was quite happy with how light and soft she was, even with her clumsy feet at times! For the first time in what feels like forever, we did the Figure-8 pattern smoothly at a trot! It seems my revelation (see last post) has made a difference and Lady's turns were flawless! :D :D
I also picked up where we had left off last time and played with some canter circles... I'm still walking around to give her more room to practice with, but am working towards being able to stand still and have her maintain gait... its coming!! :D I'm still struggling a little bit with how to make her trotting change-of-direction smooth and full of TROT! She is still slowing up and then launching off again, which isn't bad... but its not what I'm wanting right now...

At this point is where I got on... and realized how clumsy my mounting process is... guess what I'll be working on... :P I would love to be able to get on bareback, smooth as silk, and not have my poor horse grunt and grumble while I'm at it. Hehe...
Again, picked up where I left off last time and headed down the rail at a calm walk. Had a tentative plan in my head and ended up going through with it completely. About halfway around the arena was where I had the barrels set up for figure 8, close to the rail. We walked all the way over there, with only one tiny correction when she wanted to turn around and look at Tempest, but I wanted to stay by the fence. When we got to the barrels, I asked, as politely as I could, if we could do some Figure 8s, right by the fence. She obliged beautifully and we went through it three times before heading back the way we had come. :) As we went down the fence this time, I asked for a few 180s and 360s, just to see how soft she really was.. and all went well!
What happened next? Well.... I got off.... :D And I am ever so proud of myself for it... For once, I managed to dismount when everything was smooth and soft and perfect... on a very very good note. :)

My favorite part... because of my timing in getting off, we walked back to the gate in true harmony. I never touched her rope and she kept her head under my arm the whole time. I cannot remember a time that this has happened after a ride.. it made my day! :)
To finish off, I did a few tiny things at Liberty... hindquarter/forequarter yields with Driving and Porcupine and a bit of Yo-Yo... she was focused and connected... :)
I love my horse! <3

Savvy on!
-Kit Marie and Lady Hwin

-hay bales from our spring cutting :)