LD :>Well, today I rode Phoenix for the very first time.  I was
LD :>so happy and
LD :>proud!  I nearly cried with joy.  This day has been
LD :>anticipated for over 3
LD :>years!
Congratulations!!  Isn't it the greatest thing!!
LD :>Let me tell you, this horse is a saint!  She's the best
LD :>horse I have ever
LD :>ridden.  I'm not kidding!  Since she has no bad habits and
LD :>was started so
LD :>gently, she's a DREAM to ride!  She is as light as a
LD :>feather.  Right now
LD :>she is working in a lindell (side pull with a jowl strap
LD :>instead of a
LD :>throat latch strap) and a balance rein around her neck.
LD :>She has started in
LD :>a snaffle, but I didn't want to try her with that the first
LD :>time.
Sounds like someone is doing something right!
LD :>Anyway, if I think stop and shift my weight down and "out
LD :>my knees," while
LD :>breathing out and set my hands lightly, she halts
LD :>immediately.  (I've never
LD :>had a horse with a good stop!)  If I breathe again and
LD :>lighten my seat and
LD :>give with my hands, she walks on.  A turn is as easy as
LD :>thinking it and
LD :>turning my shoulders.  She's even getting the idea of
LD :>bending around the
LD :>inside leg and responds to the very slightest leg pressure.
LD :>Her trot is
LD :>beautiful and rythmic and takes a tiny bit of lightened
LD :>seat, a "trot"
LD :>thought and a tiny flutter against her sides with my
LD :>calves. I didn't
LD :>canter this time.  She's just getting into that now in the
LD :>arena and is
LD :>not as balanced as she will be.  My balance isn't great
LD :>either, so we'll
LD :>do that later.
Great!  She sounds @onderful!!  And it sounds like your trainer has done all 
the right things!  Glad to see you're @illing to let the canter go till 
another day.  It really is a different beast and it's better to let her get a 
little more experienced and balanced (you too!) before you try it. Anyho@, 
for a first ride, it sounds almost perfect!!
LD :>I was SO impressed with my baby.  She seemed to enjoy
LD :>showing off for her
LD :>mom today, too.  Today has got to be one of the highlights
LD :>of my life.  To
LD :>think that the little tiny filly is now all grown up and
LD :>carrying her mom
LD :>is almost too much to imagine.
I kno@!  It's amazing ho@ fast they gro@ up, isn't it (g)!  Have fun!  It 
sounds like you've got a good one there!!
Meg  
 
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