Born Free... Now she's expensive.

Tilly personified:

 “I'm selfish, impatient and a little insecure. I make mistakes, I am out of control and at times hard to handle. But if you can't handle me at my worst, then you sure as hell don't deserve me at my best.”
― Marilyn Monroe

There are some days that I have to read Tilly's mood and just long line her.  I do my best to not project on her - something I see occur frequently in others as part of human nature.

Back in my polo days, I really appreciated the low maintenance treatment of the horses.  The barn was full of happy, healthy horses that didn't need to be bubble wrapped.  I always said that if I ever got back into dressage - I wouldn't have a high maintenance horse!  My trainer in high school and after college taught me a lot but she also burned me out on horses that seemed to forget what it was to be a horse.

Don't get me wrong - I want Tilly in the field as much as possible - but I also really like having her in a facility with video surveillance in the stall and a top notch staff that gives her all the potions required to keep her happy.  Ok, yeah.  Tilly is really high maintenance.
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During our ride on Monday - Laura and I may have ticked Tilly off quite a bit.  There is such a fine line with a temperamental horse!  We need to push her but I also have to take time to explain the exercise.  Laura told me to "light a fire" and that is the perfect analogy when working to inspire this horse.  Sometimes the fire is beautiful and illuminates the way.  Sometimes we get burned.

Cut to my ride on Friday.  So, I'm cruising along.  Working to bring the hind feet more under and all.  Also, I'm schooling the changes.  And here I go lighting the fire.  Blamo,  I'm in the dirt.  TNT officially bucked me off for the first time.  My ego is the only thing bruised BUT I am so happy to report:  I jumped back on and resumed the exercise!  And I got a CHANGE with NO BUCK!  I think she was apologizing for dumping me :)

Now, major training decision.  Do I work the changes tomorrow or wait for my lesson with Laura on Monday?  I think i'm going to do canter half pass zig zags with a simple change.   My goal was to be ready to do  canter h/p with flying changes this week, but maybe I need to better explain to Tilly what I expect. Hmmm....