Mandatory Conditions Demanded by Fancy

April 24, 2020Posted inFancy, Flying Change
I thought that once Fancy could do flying lead changes under Erin Patterson's development, she would be able to do them with me as the rider. That statement is true. However, Fancy has formulated conditions for my success. Fancy loves to do flying changes, but there are rules. "Rules?", I mumble when Erin translates the rules from Fancy speak into Susan's brain. When I formulated Plan A, I didn't know there would be conditions. I thought only that getting my body balanced, leg cues given and focus would be all…

Whining

April 17, 2020Posted inFancy, Flying Change
I knew flying lead changes would be difficult. I cherish the difficult part of the journey dealing with my favorite horse movement in the universe. That is easy to say, but when the difficulty is real, some humans start whining. I never whine, but that is a lie. Why did I say, "Why did I ever want to do flying changes?" Why did I say, "Whose idea was it to do flying changes?" Why did I whine today? Because it was difficult. Because I couldn't get the left to right…

Fancy April Update 4/9/2020

April 9, 2020Posted inFancy, Flying Change, Missouri Fox Trotter
We are living in the time of the Corona Virus Pandemic. A horse was withdrawn early from Erin Patterson's training since all the horse shows are being cancelled. That gave me a chance to enroll Fancy into training. The goal is for Fancy to be able to do flying lead changes while being ridden. You readers might know my twenty years of flying lead change addiction. With Fancy, flying lead changes (FLC), are very possible. She needs to have an expert rider with feel and balance, who understands FLC. Fancy…

Great Rides and Temper Tantrums

February 28, 2020Posted inFancy, Flying Change
It is embarrassing to write the stories of my Fancy Horsemanship failures. This isn't a fiction book. Tony Vaught is Fancy's farrier. He comes from Florida to take care of Fancy and many others. We Midwest customers refuse to let him be free of us. This particular day, he got done early with his other customers on this day and showed up early. I asked if he would ride Fancy after her shiny new shoes are attached. YES! I was near heart attack happy. Sadly, it was a long cold…

Canter Crazy & Lost Saddle

January 14, 2020Posted inFancy, Flying Change, Missouri Fox Trotter
Well now I've gone and done it. It's now difficult for me to get Fancy to go into a gait. We just want to canter. Fancy canter pop-up all over the place in anticipation of me asking for her to canter. Finally we were able to flat foot walk, but not fox trot. Finally we got a fox trot. Then I asked in my normal way for canter. What the heck, she was upset at my request. We cantered. I tried for lead change. Fancy changed in front. There were…

Best Group Lesson Ever

November 21, 2019Posted inFancy, Flying Change, Missouri Fox Trotter
Quote of the day: “I can no longer tell people watching Fancy and I ride that Fancy was ruined at her colt start.”  No one would believe me.   Highlight words from Erin Patterson during the group lesson of November 20th, 2019: “That fox trot is perfect!” “Look, she isn’t arguing!” “Hey!  Fancy looks like a Performance Horse!”  (I apologized). While Fancy was doing a flat foot walk leg yield diagonally the long way of the arena Erin pronounced:  “That is excellent. Look, her ears are flopping!”  (That is wonderful for a Fox Trotter gait…