Houston... We Have a Problem

In the ongoing saga that is Megan, 2 steps forward is invariably followed by 2,3 or 14 steps back. The current "issue" is rearing. On 2 occasions she has reacted to being startled by rearing... apparently pretty aggressively rearing on the second occasion. This is not something, understandably, that Mary Bess wants to deal with when she has a full complement of competition horses that need to be ridden.

My first reaction was pretty frustrated and disgusted with nothing ever being easy with this horse, but after having some time to cool off and having a TERRIFIC ride on her last Saturday, I'm inclined to give her more time. Soooo, the next step is taking her to Ricky to work her through the rearing and get her started over fences and then see what we have.

I think the bigger problem is that she is not in front of the leg at all... and frankly, she hasn't had enough consistent work under saddle to establish obedience to the leg. That leaves no defense when she decides to balk and/or go up when something spooks her. If we can get her obedient off the leg and thinking forward, I think (hope) the rearing will be a non-issue.

I'm not looking forward to loading her on Saturday, but I am excited about having her closer to home and getting to work with her more myself. On the other hand, knitting is a good hobby, too....

I got your pictures!

Okay, they kinda stink, but I got some pictures of Miss Megan's newly shorn self. You can see her little lip curling in the first one... she just had a candy cane and was hoping for more!


The color isn't the greatest on these. She looks washed out.

Still hoping for a hand out. You can see how short and sporty her mane is. Woohoo, no longer a woolly beast.

Megan Rocks

Yesterday I got to watch her go under Mary Bess and then I rode her. Canter transitions are yet to come, but her trot work is beautiful. She has such an elegant outline and is just naturally right there, up, round and engaged. She felt great when I got on her, too. She takes a lot of leg to keep going which I'm not used to, but she's very rhythmic, soft and connected, which I'm also not used to. :-)

Mary Bess hopes to start jumping her this week if our weather will cooperate and let the ground dry out. I can't wait to hear how that goes.