Mazy back at it

Mazy and I rode out about a month ago and while we were riding in the hay fields I was taking video with my cell phone. As we were coming up on where to cross over from the front field to the back, she spooked and spun. Literally spun right out from under me. I sort of somewhat have it on video. No I haven't watched it yet. So for now we are working in the arena because my body hurts. Yes. Please laugh at me, with me... Lol

So we put on our cowgirl clothes, Mount the cell phone on the fence and see what we can do. We are working on spins because why not? Shes really stepping across in front at least going to the left. 

More crossing over steps going left. 

And more loping trying to get her to just relax and chill the hell out. At least here my feet are more back underneath me, hands lower, I seem to be looking up where we need to go. Still a nice gap between the back legs. And the front legs. But between the front and back? We need to work on that. 

Oooof! Leaning much? Dayum girl! Sit up straight ffs.

Yep. Still leaning. Check. Please don't fall over.Please don't fall over.Please don't fall over.  

Then we're on to more lope pics. We're still working on getting her rocked back and lightening up the front end.... Notice the shortened gap between front and rear legs again. Ugh! Frustrating. 

While this pic above could be better... I still like it for a few reasons. 1) look at the reach in her hind end. That inside hind leg is still traveling. Can you imagine riding that if the front right is too? Because I have seen her do it. I have pics. 2) Sure my hands are a little high and elbows a bit far back to keep that straight line from elbow to bit, but she is finally starting to relax into contact. When she relaxes and reaches down, my reins are long enough that my hands come down with her and things are still good. 

This one, again could be better. Could show her rocked back more, outside front could still be reaching out, not so much leaning and she could be a lot more relaxed and steady in her tempo instead of doing everything at warp speeds. But.... Her head is a bit lower, she is comfortably bent to the circle, again the reach of the hind leg, my hands are a tad lower and wide apart giving her room to work in there. 

The hands being wide is breaking a bad habit I work on a lot. I try to keep them as wide apart as my hips, not together perched on the horses withers. Don't know when or where I picked up that habit, but it needs to stop. Perching my hands on the withers added to my hunter hunch as I've heard it called. Not a good position for anything or a good look for anyone. 

As much as I struggle keeping my hands wide, I had a judge at a show tell me once that I needed them closer together, almost On their withers. She was a breed show judge and sure, maybe for rail classes thats ok, but this wasn't a rail class kind of show. Sometimes we have to learn when, where and how to accept constructive criticism while ignoring all or part of it at the same time. We also need to know how to pick out the tiny tidbits of good things from the same statements.