What the DOR learned...

Turns out that putting an English saddle on properly is nothing like putting on a western saddle, the position is different. The DOR work on properly tacking up. She had to put on three different saddles using four pad variations properly...she ended up saddling a horse for 1/2 an hour until the instructor was satisfied she knew where to put the saddle and could cinch it up with one hand. She then practiced sitting with a balanced seat. She said she felt wobbly-she better get over that before she gets on me or I'll show her wobbly. She also learned a proper English dismount-which is similar to an emergency dismount in western riding. She plans on riding me English this Wednesday. I am practicing my prancy English trot and head tuck in preparation...I think I can look like the horse in the videos. I might turn into a cow herding, trail conquering, dressage appy-a horse of many talents.
Monday night the DOR and I work on our liberty work in the pasture. It is the biggest space we have worked in at liberty. She did a good job following me while I backed up. I also made sure she could track my hind quarters and fore quarters without wondering off to visit one of the other horses. Then came the big test...could she stay in the middle of a circle that I made around her in a three acre pasture? I circled counter clockwise and turned to face her, she was still there. I them circled clockwise and turned to face her, she was still in the proper place. I was very excited that she has learned we can work together without a halter and leadrope in a big space. She has learned that she doesn't have to get excited and start running around the pasture. We are becoming a herd, the DOR and I, and that makes it much easier to work with her.
Enjoy your day and don't forget to hug your DOR