I've got misgivings about the bit at the moment (see bitting and bridling tab), so we're progressing her education in a bosal hackamore, an easier translation from the halter with two reins. We're building on the understandings established both on the ground (over the past 9 months) and with the ridden halter work (from the last 2 months) to combine forwards steps, lateral bends to a one rein stop, hind yields, back ups on two reins and yielding the shoulders with a reaching step. The latter movement is the foundation for work such as pirouette in dressage, or roll back in Western traditions, and helps to teach the horse to shift its weight back with lightness.  My job is to help her translate these movements while she's also balancing the additional weight of a rider, while also keeping her mindset positive, and our partnership sweet and connected. 

As she is still a developing young horse, the sessions continue to be short and focused (about 10-20 minutes of ridden work after 5-10 minutes of groundwork) and she is rewarded for every single positive attempt or 'try' she offers by having a full release of any pressure at all. We continue to mix the ridden work sessions in with walks out in hand, trailer training, and other confidence building activities on the ground.