Magical Browband

(I also considered the title "Thinking Cap")

Guess who finally rode her horse for the first time in practically a month?

You guessed it! Me!

My bronchitis problem isn't 100% gone, but it is back to a point where doing a little work won't make me die of a coughing fit, so riding can be back in the picture.

After a month of not riding, I've been itching to get back on. Plus I have a pretty new browband from BrowbandsByJayne (if you guys are interested in a browband, I highly suggest buying from her. Beaded with real swarovski crystal and sterling silver, and they are all handmade and gorgeous) and who can resist new pictures with pretty browbands. 

I may or may not have had a little bit of a crazy idea - lets try a whole ride with a loose rein. Now you have to remember, this is the horse who hasn't been ridden in a month, and generally has a very loud opinion on being ridden, at any gait other than walk, without contact. Seems like a good plan, right? 

To be fair, I even admitted it was a little crazy. But my horse has had this beautiful self-carriage while being free lunged for the last two weeks (there are some pictures at the end of my post here). And I have been amazed by it. And I have been ridiculously excited to try and ride him in a self-carriage in all three gaits. 

Do you all see what is happening on this picture?! Me - riding one handed, and on a loose rein. Him - pleasantly going forward, without any bucking or bolting, and staying balanced without relying on hanging on my hands. My mind was blown. I didn't have to get grabby because my horse was bolting. My horse didn't have to freak out because I was out of balance or fiddling. It was just nice. We worked together and flowed nicely and it was beautiful. And I kept smiling and giggling like an idiot.

On rides like this, I just look at my horse, and I wonder what I ever did to deserve the most incredible athlete, best friend and partner in the whole entire world. 

I am also really starting to see and feel the change in his body and brain as well. He is no longer the gangly racehorse with too many legs, too little steering, no concept of leg pressure, and running into contact. He is turning into a beefy sporthorse who understands how to use his legs, and has figured out leg yields like nobody's business, and has a pretty solid understanding of how to turn and when and where, and also has learned to not lean on contact, or rely solely on it. 

This horse guys. He is just the absolute coolest.

All that is to say - apparently my horse approves of his new bling, and has deemed it his newest thinking cap. Hopefully magical browband continues to be magical for a long time to come, because I am in love with it (and I think my horse is too!)