Think I may have met my match. Took in a 14 year old mare from a rescue to try and get her fit for adoption. And she. Will.NOT. Calm down. Every session it’s like she forgot what she did the day before. Anxious about everything, is this something time will work through? I’ve got her through August. But she sees a lunge whip, or a flag, or a handy stick and she wigs out. Now I can’t catch her- it’s like she’s going backwards. Any pointers? Been following along the E20 but it’s like there’s no progress with her. 

Little update on Ward! Wish I it would let me attach a video but it won’t let me. Ward’s owner extended him through this month. Ward has really done well in his time with me. Rides off pretty well now with little to no ground work. He’s still pretty stiff to one direction, but loosening up. I’ve had the barn intern up on him now and he’s just really calming down. Pretty pleased with this big 3 year old. Going to be a sad day when he goes home!

This is Ward. He’s a 3 year old I took in on training. His owner has never ridden him and owned him for about 2 weeks before sending him in. He bought him off a video he saw- and to the credit he was riding pretty nicely. When I got him in he was very jumpy-hard to catch- and liked to buck on the lunge line. I started treating it like a restart and have been following the Es-20 series with Luna and yesterday he had his first ride under me. Worked him on the ground a bit and he did great when I stepped on him! Little stiff to the right but we’ll work on that! 

Alright dumb question. How are my stirrups here? I got a different saddle and I’m riding in oxbows- used to ride in bells. And for the life of me I just can’t get them where I want them. A notch down feels too long but I feel more balanced in my seat. Here feels almost too short and I feel off balance in my hips. I’ve attached both pictures.