Re: our trainer on a Gypsy at the Horse Expo

Joyce Reynolds-Ward <jrw@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:

Toward the end of our session today, all I had to do was squeeze my
hand and shift my weight, and she was rocked back on her haunches,
ready to launch into a lope. Yesterday, during a lesson session, we
were doing simple changes with a squeeze of the hand, shift of weight,
forward release of hand. She gets the flying change down, and we're
good to go for reining classes. Might actually happen this summer.

That's impressive Joyce. Really impressive.

And, interestingly, her distractability is also increasing with her
responsivity. She's getting more reactive. Going down the road for
our trail ride after a workout is getting to be--um--more
*interesting,* because she's even more aware of her surroundings and
what's happening around her--and her reflexes have sped up!

She's "getting her blood up." A very good thing and speaks to a
horse who is healthy, sound and fit.

It's very interesting. But, she's definitely the race car/sports car
type of horse, not the commuter vehicle. We're coming up on a two day
layoff (I'll be out of town), which is the first more than one day
layoff she's had for a while. Results should be interesting.

The training will hold. But you might feel like you are riding on
the edge of the sword.

Even before this conditioning phase, I've never considered her to be a
beginner's horse under saddle. She's even less so now. If she went
through a pro's hands, dear God, no one less than a pro or skilled
high-level ammy could ride her. She's getting the taste of the higher
performance level, and I think she likes it.

The sting is there. And it's a *big* deal. I respect it--and her.
She's never a horse I can slouch and relax on, and she's even less so
now.

From your descriptions over the years she always has seemed to me
to be an intelligent, athletic horse with a lot of heart. Your
overall approach has preserved that while markedly increasing
her rideability.

I can guarantee she won't burn out, because you'll be throwing
a different saddle on her and working on "something else."

Makes me understand a few comments Richard Shrake made about her a few
years ago, when he was at the barn for a visit. It'd be interesting
to get his reaction now. As it is, Gregg has that very appraising
look when he watches us, sometimes.

They're nobody's fools. Maybe you can get an up-to-date evaluation
from Richard at some time in the near future. I know Gregg has the
knowledge and skill to do that, but I like a set of fresh eyes on a
horse every once in a while.

I'm happy for Mocha. I don't know that she would have made it
through a program aiming her toward the futurities. She seems
to come from a line of brilliant performers who are a bit fragile
from what you have written in the past. Horses like this can be
great horses but they can never be abused.

She got real lucky the day you decided to buy her. I mean that.

Congratulations. You've earned everything you've got today.

Sue
svleopold@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
.

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