Stepping Up

 With Carmen on rest I was able to transfer all my focus to Quaid.  It's been a while since I've had just one horse to ride so I didn't want to over do it. Well, that's not true, I know I would want to over do it so I needed to make sure I didn't.  

Quaid: I thought I was resting on my laurels? 

What's interesting is how he's responding well to the added pressure.  And by pressure, I don't mean that it's heavy but that I'm (finally) treating him as a grown up horse and expecting him to follow my lead. Since the show I noticed a huge boost in my confidence and it's carrying over into how I'm riding. 

square halt! 

I'm not avoiding things because I worry how he'll respond. It doesn't mean that I'm attacking it either. Instead I try to ask 'what does he need from me right now?' and do that thing.   I can feel that he's noticing the change but he's not upset by it. 

I also was lucky and was able to have two lessons with Jane a few days apart. She came with her horse to practice her freestyle in my ring and I snagged her for an extra lesson.  In both Quaid and I had to most balanced canters we've had.  

He gets a little excited and then starts to anticipate (like every horse on the planet).  I had this aha moment when Jane was saying 'don't ask him to canter now' 

Me: I'm not asking him to do this! 

Jane:  yes but are you telling him what you want him to DO? 

Me:  .....well crap. 

I mean if I expect him to step up I need to make sure that I do the same. 

getting all the pats