TRANSITIONS
Walk. Canter. Walk.

Trot. Canter. Trot. Halt. Backup. Walk. Trot.

Indirect rein, direct rein. Sideways. Follow the Rail. Bowtie. Walk. Canter, left lead. Trot. Canter, right lead. Trot. Canter...

And so it goes. I hope I change it up enough that my LBI stays interested. Because we spent so much time on the ground for the past few years, my riding had suffered. Well, not anymore. That's all we've been doing, it seems. Oh, we're doing a bit online—transitions (surprise) on the 22', Sideways with a fence.

We haven't abandoned the Patterns (FTR and Bowtie are patterns), we're just focusing on Finesse and FreeStyle for a change.

I shimmed his saddle starting about a month ago. First it took three half-inch shims. Then it took two. Today, two made the saddle too high in front. I removed one. Level. He must be changing. I am really looking forward to the day I can order the Natural Performer saddle because there will be even more change.

I have no highlights—we're just plugging away, progressing day by day, and OH is it fun to be able to canter freely now. We've played and rode about four times this week. The weather is stellar, and life is good. :-)

Oh, and there are two new yearlings at the barn, and one of them has absolutely glommed onto me. *sigh* Someday...

QUICK POST
Not much to this one—I have a lot to say but no energy to type it all just yet. This is a reminder.

Wednesday: Big lesson for me about bossiness (from others), whether to listen to my agenda or that of another's, and how putting the relationship and PNH principles first should ALWAYS be my priority no matter how big the amount of peer pressure, and when I void that, things don't go as well.

Also learned that no matter how well someone rides or if they've dabbled in PNH, they may not understand Horseanalities and the intricacies of communication as well as one who has been studying L&HB seriously like I have, and that when I'm riding him through a challenging new task, the look on my horse's face that YOU feel the need to warn me means he wants to lay down might really be my horse entering the Land of Catatonia and you're misinterpreting it. So thank you for your opinion.

Finally got around to making my shims and trying them. BIG DIFFERENCE!

Saturday: FANTASTIC! Now that we can canter, we're cantering all over the place and IT IS AWESOME!!! I'm already comfortable enough that I can start a canter from a dead stop, not just work up to it from a trot. It's actually easier to start from a walk or stop. Who knew?

I marked his scapula with the L2 Equine crayon before and after riding. It does move. Amazing. I also took away one of the three shims because I'd over-leveled and was tilting myself backwards. Ooops.

Can't wait for tomorrow. :-)