Well.... we're trying... we're trying...

 Both of us! We're both trying!

 

It was super cold today but I managed to sneak a ride in on Lyric before the sunset. But man was it cold! Like, she didn't even sweat under her saddle and I didn't get too sweaty in my winter outfit - fleecy breeches, winter tall boots, winter gloves, long john shirt, sweatshirt and heat reflective vest. We rode at home because I had hacked Funny at Ashland and we just didn't have time to go anywhere. 

I got her tacked up and hopped on and we headed out the driveway. We did a little meander on the grassy open field between Jean and Art's place. And she was a bit jumpy and spooky. Then as we got halfway up Jean's driveway to the arena, I realized I had my headband on, not my helmet! Ooops! I contemplated.. because it was warm. But figured I should be smart. Especially since she's been balky and threatengin to buck and especially because I had my spurs on and especially because it was cold and windy and she was spooky. And because, quite frankly, it's just not smart to ride naked. So we headed back and I hopped off and got it on and then we headed back up the driveway. 

 

We got to the arena and did a little haunches in and shoulder in. She still really struggles with haunches in left while also bending left. She wants to shoulder right and haunches left and turn it into a leg yield vs a haunches in. But at the end of our ride we got it much better. Walk only! We haven't been brave enough to try it at the trot. Then we picked up the trot. She was immediately balky and behind my leg. She felt like she was going up and down instead of forward, but not in a explosive kind of way. Just in a "I don't want to go" kind of way. I tried to wait patiently and tried to calmly ask for forward. I got frustrated and used my spurs a little and she kicked out at me. We tried for a little bit and then finally I decided to ask for the canter and see if that helped. We cantered both ways. And it did help. She felt a little less balky though at times she still got sticky. She also was pretty braced again and wanting to either be inverted or super long and low. But we did manage a decent amount of time in a nice neutral (ish.. slightly above) frame. We played with circles and leg yields and pushing her haunches out. Her leg yields were pretty good. She is still tipping her poll but maybe not quite as bad today. I did ride shoulder in tracking left which helped and a little counter flexed tracking left. And then tracking right, it was easier feeling. It's hard to tell how much is me and how much is her because I know I'm crooked too. 

 

Her canters are definitely improving and her transitions in and out are a hair better. Although I still feel like she feels like she's only had 30 days off the track vs going on 3 years now. (or however long/little it's been). Like... you'd look at her and think "she's not that bad"... and she's not... but for a horse that's been in consistent-ish work and off the track for however long it's been... she shouldn't still feel like a green 4 year old. But I did get some decent work and she eventually got more in front of my leg and happy. She did lose her hind end a few times. Nothing horrible today but enough to bump me onto the other diagonal. And she was chompy. Despite me giving her sucralfate at the trailer. She also had a few steps of the lameness tracking right. Usually right after we changed direction. (Which makes me wonder if it's hind end related, as it almost feels like she loses her balance vs lameness). Of course it's also when she seems to be rooty so I don't know if it's the rooting causing the lameness or the lameness causing the rooting. Sigh. 

 

We didn't do a ton because she had reached a good point and was going pretty nice considering. I didn't want to keep pushing her and it was getting darker and colder. So.. we ended on a good spot and hacked home. Thank you for trying girl even though you didn't necessarily want to. Ugh.. it's so hard. Like.. I want to be respectful of her and listen to her, but also... she didn't look so bad when Jacel rode her and it's hard to say because she seems to get better the more and longer you ride... so... I don't know. Ugh.