beautiful moves

Saddled her up and put my surcingle over the saddle and got ready to long-line her for the first time.  I started by just lunging her off a single long-line to get her used to them, and she showed the strangest behavior.  The flapping strap of the long-line was obviously annoying her and she was lifting her front feet high to try striking at it as she trotted forward.  The effect was just beautiful--she had her forehead on the vertical, too!  I felt it was good for her as this will get at more of the head shyness that is causing trouble with the barn help.  She was turned out when I got there, but again whoever did it this could not approach her to get the lead line off of her.

Long lining for the first time is always a bit tricky, but she stood well as I got the lines rigged up and it was easy to send her to the rail and control her.  Predictably she was a bit ticklish when I dropped the outside rein around her hindquarters, but she only kicked a couple of times and never bucked.  After a few minutes she was trotting calmly in both directions and could be turned fairly easy.  I brought her off the rail and had no trouble undoing all the lines and gear.

Spent about 10 minutes practice mounting.  She is ready to be sat on but I'll wait for a helper to be around.  I could stand in the stirrups for up to a ten count without her walking off.  When she did walk off, it felt a little nervous but not like the first step was going to be a buck. 

Took her outside for some work--doing a little better but it's a challenge for her to really focus on me with all the distractions.  Jumped the barrels and lunged her on a hillside as well.  When she is excited she is doing a beautiful collected canter on a 10' circle around me--just incredible!  Worth everything just to see it.  I think she has Spanish barb in her, for sure.  I've not worked with a horse with this much physical talent before.  For that matter, I haven't seen one this agile before, either.

Ended in the arena with a tying lesson.  Giving to the lead line better and able to move her over with a stick.