Another quick update... canter lead breakthrough!

Pixie and I on a cold winter day

(no, I was not wearing makeup, lovely I know)

Unfortunately, with the wet weather and then the icy, bitter-cold weather that has been plaguing the Tennessee valley, my plan to work with Pixie alot over Christmas break didn't really happen. However, we made the best use of the time that we had. I am back up at school in Knoxville now, but I rode Pixie on Tuesday morning and had a real breakthrough!! I had started cantering Pixie during the fall-- but she never really seemed to "get" the idea of leads. She was super willing to pick up a canter in the arena-- that has never been a problem, but I don't think she ever understood the idea of my positioning to signal a lead to her. She would get the correct lead once but the lead wrong the next. So I backed off and decided to head back to bending and yielding shoulders and hindquarters at the walk and trot. That is what we worked on for the majority of my Christmas break. Tuesday I decided it was time to go back to cantering but I decided to take a different approach. After doing our normal arena work, I thought it was time to try canter leads again...But, instead of trying it in the arena, I rode Pixie down to a bottom field that is very open and flat. I made sure she was supple in her shoulder yields and her mouth felt great, so I walked her straight to a fence row, pivoted, and asked for her canter out into the open field. After a couple of false-starts on the wrong lead from what I asked, away we went. She had favored picking up her right lead before this ride, but that day I think she finally understood what I was asking her to do. When she picked up her left lead and we cantered about half the length of the field, I stopped and praised her ALOT. I mean, A-L-O-T. And honestly, I think Pixie understood. She pricked her ears and completely changed her demeanor from one of unassuredness to one of acceptance and understanding. I can't really explain it... but if she had been a human, I think she would've taken a huge sigh, smiled, and said "I've got it now!". She picked up each lead three times correctly after that with no false starts. And she has such a lovely canter... WOOHOO for breakthroughs! :)

I adore this mare! I think what I like most is the fact that, althought she might not understand things the first time, she doesn't quit or get frustrated. She is always very willing to try things. Hopefully I will get to go home to the farm tomorrow and (weather permitting) ride again.