definitions

My previous definition of a good ride on Shyloh: not falling off, no bolting, and no excess scooting.

After many many "good" rides on Shy by both Beth and myself, I need to change the definition. Her scoots are at a bare minimum and she does not appear to want to get either of us off her back.

The new definition good ride on Shy: listening to the rider, bending, not over reacting, and not being arena/barn door sour.

Ugh! Shy has become so sour to the doors that lead her to her stall. After about ten to fifteen minutes of good riding, Shy has it in her mind that she is done and wants to go back to her stall. Most likely to do this:

snooooze

Yesterdays ride consisted of a constant fight after the "allotted" ten minutes of ride time. It was a fight to keep her moving forward or even moving at all. She would stop and look at the door. I could see the whites of her eyes from looking in that direction. I would urge her forward and she performed the most beautiful, unasked for side passes. Just because she wanted to keep her eyes on the arena doors. 

Today, Beth rode Shy outside. Again, after the first ten minutes, Shy was trying with all her might to stop at the spot of the outdoor riding area that was nearest the barn door. 

Equally frustrating to the ride time limit and being door sour, Shy throws in other ways to keep us on our toes.

Yesterday when I was riding, Shy thought being hard on the left rein and leaning into the bit was the way to go. She was tired from her hard day of grazing. So tired that she was falling asleep when Beth was explaining some new concepts to me. We did serpentines and figure eights to practice bending. Shy did do pretty good at these, but she just had it in her mind that she did not feel like working. But the trots. . .she did not want to do any for me. But I kept at it, with her being hard on the reins and every thing, until I got just a few good steps at the trot. Whew.

Today, when Beth rode, Shy switched it up and was amazing on the left rein and hard on the right rein. Since Beth has not worked her in a while, Shy was under the impression that a trot now consists of a few steps then stop. Oops. . .my fault! Beth fixed it and trotted her around for a long time. 

Shy is constantly challenging us and changing up what she does. Beth likes the challenge. So we have to always be thinking and changing what we do in her training. Today it was small serpentines to get her to bend. Tomorrow? Who knows what Shy will fancy. . .The only thing I am sure of is that my definition of a good ride will eternally be updated to fit our needs.

Shy likes strawberries!