A word from the trainer about the first 30 days of training

Josh, (also known as "husband") has been putting the first thirty days of riding on Hazel, and has graciously agreed to write a guest blog post. I would never, ever pester him until he agreed to do this. No, never.:) 

But really, I have backed off all training on Hazel because I feel like the riding is enough for now. When she gets done with a ride, I think she deserves the night off from other stuff, except maybe a brushing or something. Plus, the horseflies have been TERRIBLE at dusk, which is when I usually work my horse. Horsefly season around here lasts for just a few weeks and then they're gone, but they really make the horses miserable for those few weeks, even with fly spray. 

Without further delay, here is what Josh says about Miss Hazel Mae Perkins Morris. 

Hazel is very smart and is picking up on things really fast.
Some of her strengths lie in her natural ability to turn on her hind end.  She can really turn around well and crosses over perfectly.  For just 10 rides she is coming along really well.
She has had a phenomenal stop from the first ride and has kept it throughout.  We started yesterday learning to yield to leg pressure and she is catching on pretty well.  Still not as soft with it as i would like but she is coming on strong.

Her weaknesses will be haunting us for a while in that she is 4 years old and already starting to get set in her ways. She is still pretty heavy and trying to get away from the bit.  Slowly she is coming around.  Her reverse leaves a lot to be desired.

Hazel has the mind and body to do all that we want her to do such as roping, ranch rodeos, kid horse, stock horse, and trail (though this may take a little longer).

Today we continued on yielding to leg pressure and getting soft in the bridle.  I think this will come faster once the stinking horse flies are gone in a few weeks.  I do think that if you can get them to pay attention with those things biting them all over then you will have a nice horse in the end.  We also worked on getting a decent back up (more than 1 step).  Toward the end of the ride she finally got soft to the pressure and backed up quite a few steps, and I immediately stopped and got off( it was that good).

She is still going to need work on getting soft in the bridle and separating her hips from her shoulders.  That will come much later, but if she will learn now how to give to pressure anywhere that will make things much easier and progress that much faster.