Ground driving revisited

We're in the process of transitioning Rio to the snaffle bit, now that he has his teeth done, including a bit seat. Today, I put the bridle on him, and let him get the feel of it; he had it on once for a few minutes but today he had to learn what it was all about.

This is how I rig it, just a little shorter on the rein that I tie back with a quick release knot, through the stirrup and to the back cinch D ring.
The idea is that he will find the soft release spot on his own.

"Ya mean like this??"

Yes Rio, just like that. It only took a few minutes and he had it figured.

I ran out of camera battery right there. Anyway, I bitted him both sides, and then put my driving lines on him- did a little refresher course on the feel of them on his body and dragging on the ground beside him and then off we went. His steering was pretty good in all directions forward, but he didn't get the back up figured out today until I stepped to his head and asked him in a more familiar way, and using the reins at the same time. Then he got it. When I asked him to whoa, instead of asking for the back up which was a little to much for today, I just held the lines while he leaned on them and patiently waited for him to find his vertical release- he already had the lateral release from being bitted up before I ground drove him. He thought about it for a little, and then viola! The vertical release- consistently. Good boy Rio! Tomorrow's session should be a cake walk, once this boy gets something he gets it and it stays. So Shayla- you might get a few minutes of solo riding in the snaffle tomorrow!

We are still waiting for Belle to foal, and since she might go longer than the last guess here is what I'm going to do: When it is born, I'll take the names of all the people who got the sex and color right and draw a winner from that.