Getting to like the girl!

Very nice play the last few days. It started in the round pen and finished on a three hour trail ride, bareback to English, big tires to water, walk, trot, and canter!

Sasha is really starting to ask questions and wonder about her part in the partnership. She is really trying and finding out that she gets rewarded for a try and is trying even harder. We were playing on the obstacles one day and most of it seems new to her so she doesn't really know that to do, but she is willing to experiment. When I took her to the big tire to climb on she messed around with what to do and the hoppped up! She came right back down , but that was ok as on the second try she stopped on top and took a look around from the heights! We have water in the sand box from the rain and it didn't bother her either. She was pretty unsure about the carwash, so I pulled it back onto a doorway and she was good with that, she will figure that one out most likely in the next few trys.

The go button is getting fixed quickly. She is really moving off my leg very nicely. The trail ride today helped. As we all moved up the pace she had nice feed back on what her job was at the moment. Sasha is totally out of shape. She was ready to go home before we even got to the trail! Once there she rallied, but she is going to sleep well tonight! She does not like to lead. Very unsure of her self there, isn't afraid I don't think, just doesn't want to leave the herd. That will come with time and confidence. We had a couple of nice spots to canter. I love to have our first canters out on the trail, they have someplace to go and don't have to feel the restaints of the arena which can inhibit the forward momentum especially for a girl like Sasha who has forward issues in the first place.

Here is the good news... Her feet are trimmed, yes all four! She questioned me a little bit in the back, but not with any real need to get away or get me away. I worked quickly on the hind so they will need work again in the next few weeks, but that was sort of the idea, short and to the point and build up her tolerance and stamina. Just taking the time it takes so it will take less time in the future!

More to say but I have run out of time for this moment. Sasha is a very smart girl and I am really getting to like her.