OK some really good answers, reason I am questioning it all is because as most of you already know I have 2 youngsters. Bertie the shetland is not
quite so much of a problem tbh, or I at least perceive it that way at the moment, because he will be lead rein for a very long time so NOBODY is gonna be dragging on his mouth, but he still needs to learn to work from behind to make it easier for him. Maybe lessons with my G.Daughter will be the way I go with him.
Sioned.....I am hopefully gonna back her next year, but then I need to think about which way I am going, what I want to achieve for both her and me.
First and foremost I want a HAPPY Horse, but that relates to them both, I have no great aspirations for the two of us apart from hacking and the odd pleasure ride tbh, maybe along the line pop the odd log etc., if we are out and about, intentionally of course, lol.
I am certainly NOT the best rider in the world, and hacking out with Cookster the other week made me realise how 'riding' unfit I am tbh. I have had a very 'green' horse before and did the lessons, the schooling, so I know what the
R.I.'s say I should be attempting to achieve, but I am questioning WHY??
I agree with the 'lightness' the 'acceptance of the bit' and tbh a well
mannered Horse who is accepting of what I am asking it to do, however I
am not so sure that the 'outline' 10 metre, 20 metre circles are the way I
want to go. I want a balanced Horse, of course, as you say to make it easier for her really as much as
anything. But I can't help questioning the reason we do some of the things we do do, so acceptingly because
an RI has told us thats the way we should be doing it. A couple of people have asked me 'are you gonna school yourself' or 'send her away'
tbh, I am undecided how much of the 'schooling' thing we are gonna be doing anyway...
Trewsers hits it on the nail for me, happy and relaxed Riding, both for me, but mainly Sioned, is what I think I will aim towards, with manners
and balance being our aim, with the majority of the work being done out and about hacking. I want her 'working' correctly to build muscle
where muscle should be, but don't necessarily want to be 'working' her, if that makes sense.