I’m just doing a little hap-hap-happy dance because FINALLY my gelding is starting to come together, he’s becoming more consistent, and its a WONDERFUL feeling (especially knowing that its all my hard work with the help of a trainer once in a great while!) I’m really starting to “get it” too! :lol:
I’ve posted about him before, when we had a show that we were planning to go to. He came up lame, therefore, no show! 
Anywho, he had from June 20th to July 11th off from work because he was lame. He blew out an abscess, and he was instantly back to 100% sound (confirmed by the vet).
Now, he is not one of those “go slow, I’m gunna just jog nicely” horses…he is bred for cutting. He moves with a mission. He actually has really nice movement, he’s very long strided and floaty…but this does not make for a smooth ride. In addition, he’s still pretty green, so his gaits were inconsistent AND bouncy…:eek:
This summer he has REALLY started coming together (he just turned 6 in June, I bought him as a 3 year old and they’d broke him to ride but just on trails)…we’ve been working on softening in the bridle, using his hind end, traveling on a correct circle (bending thru ribcage) and pushing from inside leg to outside rein, and probably some others that I’m missing. This work has resulted in a very soft horse (still more work to go, but he’s like a different horse already!) who has settled nicely into a nice carriage and…A JOG I CAN SIT TO!
He really pushes from behind, which I like (I don’t want a peanut pusher that is pulling its ass along…) but up until now, I really questioned how he would EVER be able to compete as a western pleasure competitor. Now mind you, we’re not going to Congress, but for local shows, my guy WILL get to a point of being a pleasure to ride!
Even after a few weeks off, I’ve ridden him 5 times in the past week, and he’s better now than he was before his “vacation”!
I am starting to finally “get it” too - I’ve been taking lessons with a GREAT trainer in my area, and started taking one once in a while last summer. Not regularly, just whenver we could meet up and I had the money. I took a few over the winter, and a few this summer so far. The tools she’s given us in those few lessons have worked better in a shorter period of time than the “trainer” that I sent him to last spring (who did absolutely nothing except get him in better shape…he learned nothing in 45 days). My hardest challenge is remembering that I can do things with my hands and legs independant of each other…I get busy worrying about my hands and his head, and forget my legs are hanging there & I forget to use them when they are needed 
So, I’m definitely improving too…the past few rides, I’ve remembered that I have both arms AND legs!
Wow, this was long…
