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 A horse was withdrawn early from Erin Patterson’s training since all the horse shows are being cancelled.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 needs daily practice to learn how her legs should work. Fancy needs to understand (and obey) the rider cue to perform the FLC.
The goal is for the passionate, crazed Susan to be able to cue Fancy to do them. I’m happy to report that the plan is going well. Erin gets FLC 95% of the time. Most FLC that happen are smooth. A few are not, as Fancy occasionally braces her front legs, pops up or the changes in the front and back legs are not done at the same time and it is chaos in the saddle.
Never did I have a horse that could do flying changes like Fancy is doing now. I am “in heaven”.
Erin’s next plan is to ride Fancy first, do flying changes, let me ride and coach me.
I just went into part two of heaven. This might start soon.
My goal lifetime goal is to pass the Level 4 Parelli program. Level 4 involves Finesse, Free style, Online and Liberty. I have a chance to pass the test for all four of these areas before I die or before something happens that would take away my ability to to ride. This really is a race against age and all that it involves. My first step is to pass Finesse as I get to use a bridle and ride with reins in two hands. Stayed tuned!