Still hopeful, with caveats

Well, I took Lyric to Ashland today because I wanted to ride her again and wanted to do a nice long warm up again. And it's no fun at home. Especially because she is so nervous in the neighborhood and it's a lot scarier riding on concrete and peoples yards. So we did. 

I put the back on track on and her front back on track boots for the trailer ride. When we got to Ashland I put the dressage saddles on her to see which one might fit better. The peter horrobin is definitely too wide. The loxley seems like it fits her great so.. we tried it without the back on track pad (in case it was the back on track pad that was causing the rubbing). I hopped on and away we went.  She felt good and was pretty forward and marching. Although she had to keep stopping and sniffing things. 

 

It was a good ride.  She trotted fine in the woods. She was forward and not mincy or chompy. However I realized the saddle was sitting too low so after our hack I put the half pad with front shims on and then we went to dressage arena.  She didn't want to go in there and got a bit balky but then did. She did decently in the arena. She lost her hind end a few times... not bad, but not super mild.  Our canter transitions are still lumbery and awkward, but overall she felt much better.  I still had a few lame steps tracking right 3/4 into the ride but then it went away again.  I did ride with more contact and more insistence today. We did some leg yields and some shallow canter serpentines.  She did get a little behind my leg a few times but when Iopened my hips it got better.  So... I don't know. I honestly don't know. I don't know if I just need to be more insistent... if she just had a better day.... if she likes that saddle better... if it was the long warm up hack or ???