I feel like I’m about to cry any minute now, but in a good way.
First of all we went to Northwest River Park with Lauren & Charlie and my horse was fantastic. I was able to keep my “right brain” side in check and we were comfortable enough to actually go out on the trails and even walk/trot/canter in a big field. It was a great confidence builder and Mocachee was having a blast.
Haven’t had much time with the boy this past week and had some free time this afternoon. After seeing some photos of “Dancin’ Pete” at the Performance Summit I’ve been curious how our circling game would go if my neutral was laying down on the ground. Being as I generally seem to kind of “repell” my horse at liberty.
Let me just say, my horse now thinks I am the best thing ever, lol. He surprised me with an epic weave pattern at the trot when I first got in there and we followed that with some “stick to me” canter/walk transitions. Then it was time for the circling game and after I sent him it became the game of, “Don’t make me stand up!”. My horse was actually playful. He was coming in and doing small circles around me, especially at the trot. His body was getting into a nice shape and he was keeping an ear on me and the other one was forward most of the time. Laying down made me literally be in neutral. He was drawing to me at the trot and canter with his ears forward and his head down, something I hardly ever get. We played with change of direction at the walk, trot and canter (standing up, though I’d love to eventually do that laying down as well). We even got a flying change on one of our canter change of directions. We did some walk/trot transitions with me laying down and then I just let him stand over me and finish his licking and chewing while I just made myself comfortable on my back.
I saddled him and just hopped on bridle less with two sticks since we hadn’t done that in a week or so. Played with some transitions and follow the rail and then he wanted to hop on the canter figure eight. He was trying for a flying change so I just did my best to “swing my shoulders” in my body (the latest segment on the new Savvy Club DVD was super helpful, plan on watching it a couple more times). He almost got one so we took a break for a bit and then a couple tries later it just . . .happened. My gaited pony gave me a clean flying change! 
I actually felt it. It was almost like he was skipping, lol. I immediately stopped him and got off and let him just hang out with me while I did chores the rest of the afternoon. I’m seriously so proud of this horse. I know two things I’m never going to forget is him cantering to me with his ears forward in the round pen this afternoon like he thought I was the best thing in the world and the feeling of that flying change this afternoon.
