Balance.

I don't think I have ever ridden so much in one week! It's been brilliant too. I have had a totally horse filled holiday with nowhere else to be and no one else to please but myself and Breeze.

Today we played for quite a long time in the arena. Breeze jumped some pretty high jumps but it made her introverted. There was a lot of rest and hanging out in between, waiting for her to be back with me. She definitely isn't going anywhere near as deep inside herself. We had some great sideways at 22'...I think it might be time to get the 45' out now. We had some good fig 8 in trot but B decided to snake her head about and explode! It didn't appear to be unconfident RB fear based, just enthusiasm. Circle game was great with lots of trotting and c.o.d. in trot too.

Saddling up and getting on was, dare I say it, perfect. I do a lot of friendly game while putting the saddle on and a few judicious treats help too. I love the way Breeze gets up on the pedestal once the saddle is on which helps make sure the skin under the girth stays smooth lol. I love how she stands still for me to get on and doesn't walk off until I ask her to.

Leaving the yard wasn't totally happy. Breeze is still a little bracy but I let her stop and waited to ask her again. Despite this glitch B was the most relaxed I have ever known her to be. She wanted to eat and didn't care if Sandra and Bert disappeared out of sight. She didn't get stressed or want to catch up either. So we moseyed along stopping to eat, catching up with Sandra and Bert, walking together and chatting, all the way round the old woods.

Again we turned to go down the straight to visit the scary logs and again B didn't want to. Today was different 'tho because she was less tense and when I asked for her to turn round she was happy to turn calmly. I forget how many times we turned. It can't have been more than four, each time I asked her to move on and finally she did. So nice to be pleasant and light hearted about it. The horses were ok with the logs so we walked past and then turned for home up the straight.

B still felt calm so I asked for trot and although she didn't maintain gait, every time I asked again she trotted happily. She was balanced and smooth and in the lead all the way up despite wanting to look all around for danger lol. I am starting to really enjoy trotting now that she is less emotional about it! Hopefully at some point in the future I will be writing the same about canter!