Mariah

Took both horses to Mariah today.  Gracie and I are still arguing over her right shoulder.  The left lead is much better if I hold my left hand up -- that lets me use an indirect rein to help shove her over to her right shoulder and also makes it more difficult for me to lean on the left rein.  I asked her to canter haunches out (leg yield on the circle) several times.  That is really really difficult for her (us).  When I had the right rein I could do a decent down transition. We worked a little on just going to trot instead of to walk or halt. That helps with the forward part.  

On the right lead the problem was the down-transition.  She wants to throw her haunches in, so I cannot touch the right rein.  It takes a huge amount of left rein to manage that.  Actually that lead in general takes more left rein than I expect.  She wants to canter haunches in.  I can counter-act that with the left rein, but it needs a lot.

Having the mirrors helps a lot.

Pico was pretty good -- we had okay right canter, lousy left.  Trot was okay.  It was fun to watch him in the mirror.  Those quick hind legs are so interesting compared to the so slow warmbloods.

Off to Leadville tomorrow, so I am going to miss two days again.  Bummer.