right and left

Finally have some good trailer news to report.  I worked Maddie alone with the trailer before riding today and closed her in there several times.  I insisted on staying outside the trailer while she loaded herself--this really seemed to help her confidence.  I let her turn around, which is not the best practice, but then she could watch me close the door.  I closed her in a few times and then reached in and got her turned facing forward and tied her to the blocker ring.  After she got used to this, I reached in and closed the divider (the trailer is a slant-load type).  Lots of rubbing throughout all this.  When I finally opened the door and let her out, she was able to stay in place fairly well.  For the first repetition, she stayed up there until I hopped up and backed her off, which is ideal.

We worked in Jane's outdoor arena for this session, with lots of canter.  Son of a gun, now the right lead is harder to pick up!  But she was staying in canter nicely and the circles were really coming along.  I was very pleased.  In walk the half pass is getting better and requires less babysitting.  Turn on the haunches is looking better, too.  I got her good and sweaty.  The only thing I noticed was a little bit of jumpiness on the way home.  Once back at the stable, I put her in the trailer two more times and closed her up completely.  Cross fingers the trailering issues will be downhill from now on!

Here's a pic from the end of Maria's ride yesterday: