One Thing at a Time

 With the show done and dusted it was time to get back to work. I have been focussed on riding Quaid forward from the beginning. It's been interesting because I realise how much I was letting him mosey and then slow down when he was worried. The problem with that is it gives him time to think and do things that I don't like (like spin or balk).  Riding him forward and in a steady rhythm makes that far less likely to happen. If I want forward away from home then I need forward firmly established at home. 

I've been paying attention to keeping my elbows from bouncing and a soft seat. A couple rides he's been really spooky about a certain spot in the ring. The bending and riding him forward is working a treat. It's helping my confidence too because every time we work through it successfully I feel more like I know what I'm doing. 

In fairness to Quaid, in one ride he was acting up about a corner and then when I rode him through a neighbourhood cat leapt up hissing! 

I could feel his soul leave his body. 

Cat: hissssss! how dare you interrupt my hunt! I will end you! 

Quaid: AARGHHHH! *leaps sideways*

Me: WTF?! 

Quaid: I TOLD YOU there was a predator there. 

Me: it was just a harmless house cat. 

Quaid: harmless? HARMLESS?! It was a cougar. My mom warned me about those out in the prairie. 

Me:there are no cougars here on the east coast (immediately a number of FB users chime in with the story of their brother's cousin's friend's run in with one in 2020)

Me: anyway..... that was just a 10 pound cat. 

Cordelia snoozing outside the ring noticing nothing: zzzzzzzzz 

Honestly, the whole thing reminded me of the incident years ago with Irish. 

I feel like I'm digressing off of the main topic here. Sorry. 

One of the things on my list when I got home was to have his saddle checked. Now I know it's not the sole answer but I felt like it might be contributing. The fitter came out today and he's definitely changed his shape. She had to swap out the gullet for a larger one and adjust the stuffing. As soon as I sat in the saddle I could feel the change. I didn't feel like I was fighting for my position. I did a little ride to make sure it was fine and then got off.  

I'm glad that I removed any discomfort that he might have been feeling. That leaves it open to tackle the training part. Tomorrow I have a lesson and we'll see if it makes any difference. Even if it doesn't, it still needed to be done. We may have 99 problems but saddle fit ain't one (anymore). 

He sure is filling out nice