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10/16/01 Tempest is progressing quite well at this point. She has a great mind, her gait is freed up and she is responding to very subtle cues. She went well yesterday after she had three days off. I lunged her with the saddle before I rode her. She is now more free moving into the lope while lunging her. I suspect that is from the riding. I can tell at this point she is probably going to ride better than my four-year-old because she always says "I can do it." My four-year-old says "I really don't want to do that," but she does it with some resistance. Tempest goes out understanding we're going for a ride, she will trot and lope some. The key to this is that it won't be hard for her. We will walk at least 3/4 of the ride. Keep it simple, make it easy. We do the chair loop which is a measured distance of 3.3 miles and takes an hour and fifteen minutes to an hour and one half. It just depends on how much walking we do and how much stopping, turning or backing. This is the point in some programs where it is easy to become anxious to teach 'new stuff' because they are on a learning plateau. If 'new stuff' is introduced and they get drilled, drilled, and drilled, problems begin to appear. It is easy to get into this trap. The only thing I will do with Tempest is keep going the distance and keep her being successful. I will continue to build her confidence through her continued success. The trick is to keep riding, broadening the base of self-confidence and the safe zone. Later when something new jumps out at her on the trail, it won't be a run-away because she can be contained by taking her into the safe zone and hopefully bringing her under control. You can get one into the safe zone more easily then by introducing 'new stuff' now. Just keep riding.
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