It's all in the timing

We had a rainy morning here for the first time in quite a while; it was perfect for making jam. I put up 6 jars of Plumcot and 6 jars of Apricot jam. Nummy!
Early afternoon, the rain quit and it was time to get out of the kitchen!
Rosalee is pretty much out of heat now, so I saddled her up and headed to the round pen. I had spurs on and I figured I'd better ride in there first to let her get the feel of my cues when I'm shod.
I started off with groundwork first; I am working on my timing when asking for a change of direction, and it was a good chance to make sure the mare was paying attention to me and not the two black hooligans hollering at her. There were a few times I had to send a hooey up the rope on the side she was looking away to- a little trick Buck taught us.
Rosalee was pretty fresh, when I asked for a walk she'd trot, when changing directions she would leap into the new direction- so we worked all those kinks out, then I got to studying my timing on change of direction. All that stuff you read or try to learn at clinics only helps if you can remember it when you are trying to accomplish something with a horse; and I remember someone somewhere saying that the timing is when the front foot hits the ground- and I'm darned if I can remember who said it. So while I was working on my half circle turns, where the horse yields it's hip, clears the shoulder and sweeps across in front to change direction, I finally nailed it- it's easier for the horse if I ask for the turn (to the inside) as the inside front foot hits the ground. So I'm hoping this will help me visualise the perfect timing when I'm in the saddle.
By this time, Rosalee was pretty soft and paying attention so I rode her for a bit. I gently let her feel my spurs when I asked for her to pick up her belly and round out her back and she was good- it's plain that she is accustomed to riders who are ironshod. I got some nice work in frame at the walk and trot, and we worked a bit on lateral moves- sidepassing the box like ole Al Grandchamp taught us (Tara, you should remember that one ) and shoulder in and hip in. Also checked out her spin- holy moley that girl can drill holes in the ground and whirl!  She is a bit rusty but picked up quickly once she knew what I wanted- it's been 3 years since she has really been asked for much.
Of course, that got me to thinking- it would be a shame not to show her. She is NRHA licenced  so could enter NRHA classes if I was a member. I'll have to check that out- it could be fun to go in a couple of lower level shows. I still will do Cowboy Dressage too, no reason I can't do both.
After the ride, I put her in the grass paddock that Coulee uses, it's just a hot wire area of my lawn. I think she was pretty happy to be turned out to graze- first time in the 17 days since I bought her.

She has gained some weight too. Now to get that tail to grow so I can take those ugly strings off! But they work as a flyswatter.