Wearing a surcingle and a bridle!!! :)

Pixie is officially back to wearing a backpad (surcingle) and a bridle! We have not yet combined the two--that's a project for this week-- but she is doing so well! She is a very smart little cookie, this Miss Pixie... And, something that I absolutely ADORE-She LOVES to work!! I'm trying my best to give her 'rein' enough to be her own horse without feeling trapped- and I think this approach has attributed alot to her great attitude. She is the first to come up to be caught now, and she gets jealous when anyone else gets work (to the point where she stands at the gate and paws out and nickers until you pay her attention!!). She's still figuring out lining to the left, but I figured out a two-person system that helped her figure out circles yesterday... Once Pixie catches on to something, she absolutely remembers it. When I put the backpad on her for the first time, she got in about three bucks and then stopped. I rewarded her, and thus far we have had no further bucking episodes or really even a foot out of place. Something Kiersten told me once though I have found to be very, very true-- if she does not understand what I am asking her, she shuts down. I have found that its best when she does this to simply stop, reassure her, and then begin again. So far, this seems to be working... Stay tuned, by next week we'll be long-lining/ground driving!! :)