Wednesday, November 19, 2014

Still Alive

Hey all I haven't blogged in a long time, after that last so every thing sort of went out the window for the rest of the season.
I got really busy and flustered and as a result Whins brain went away and we spent the rest of the summer literally going backwards, so after some dreadful shows (please do not even tell me what I scored) we took some time to hack out and unwind, and now we are back to work.

I had a lesson with my second trainer (who had just gotten back from 2 weeks of training with Debbie McDonald, I am hoping those good riding skills seep through to me eventually.) It was a great lesson and I learned a lot, it was a bit different then usual so I wanted to blog about it before I forget. We worked  on Whin being really through an honest to the bit. I didn't realize how dishonest she was being until that lesson ( and boy does she regret that I ever learned).

My trainer had us do leg yeilds to the outside when she was honest to the outside rien then we would go straight and really let her take some nice big steps, when she lost the honesty or if she wasn't through on the inside rein we would do a Renver. 

I need to remeber to really make her be through and accepting of the bridle at the walk before I ask for anything else.
Also I need to expect more of her from the begining and even in warm up have her have a nice shape in her neck instead of just dropping her head.

So now that we are both tired and soar, we will continue on so that we can keep the connection through movements as well!

Monday, July 21, 2014

It's Show Time!


I am terribly sorry I have not updated for so long, Whin and I went to a show a few weeks back on the 5th of July.

The situation was not ideal, Whin had been a bit on edge because of fireworks celebrating independence day the night before and then she went into heat. resulting in her not eating a thing that morning. And it was about 100 degrees Fahrenheit.


Well like a trooper Whin went to the show anyways, and I felt she really did try, and we did not have the stop and pout shenanigans of last year, so I suppose I shouldn't complain... but we were not on our A game.


It felt as though the footing was molasses's.( it was actually superb footing, the facility is very nice) and poor Whin was very slow and on the forehand.
I was sure we wouldn't pull a 60%


We did a bit of mad canter in between classes to wake up a bit and I feel it helped but all in all poor Whin was hot, tired and hungry, she really was a star to make such an effort.


In the end our scores were not as miserable as I thought they would be, in fact they are scores I would take any day, we got a 66% in second level test 1 and a 64% in second level test 2. We came in first in both so, although it was not our best show Whin showed a lot of heart, and I guess the judges just can't resist that cute big old head of hers!



Thursday, June 26, 2014

lesson

My trainer was out of town this week so I set up a lesson with another trainer  who is a bit farther away but a very accomplished.

It was a very good lesson, I learned a bunch. I think it is good to get another opinion on things because, a new trainer my have a different technique or say something differently that just clicks.

This lesson was all that I hoped it would be.


we worked alot on the canter walk transition, as Whin falls on the forehand.

It turns out Whin curls her haunches to the inside and locks up and falls on to her forehand so in order to fix it  we started riding leg yields through the transition. And I mean we rode a leg yield. At first I thought she meant to ride a leg yield feeling, No she wanted side ways steps.



The downwards transitions improved and became more up hill but we will really need to work on them! The trainer also said that in 2 weeks Whin will always want to leg yield over and then I will need to work on getting her straight again.

I guess its like Painting, there is always a point when you are part way through where the painting looks terrible its just blobs of color here and there, but you have to go through that point to make the painting good.



Things that were emphasised were the bend, really asking her to bend around my inside leg, and always riding a leg yield to the outside while on the circle 

(I guess leg yielding is kinda important)

Another thing that I noticed was everything had to be done well.  every turn on to center line and every transition had to be done right or it was repeated until it was good, even when we were all done and I let her walk, that trot walk transition needed to be ridden well.


That is defiantly something I need to work on!

All King Edwards Horses Call Me Blessed Fool

Tuesday, June 24, 2014

Monday, Monday

Whin has decided that she is a very, very good girl.
While my trainer was out of town she tried on the evil twin shoes (she actually does have a twin but is more of a free spirit so she doesn't wear shoes.)
However when my trainer got back in town and told me to get after her for bucking and throwing herself about while I rode her, and it has all stopped and I am quite sure she has become some sort of magic creature who can read my thoughts.
(my mood towards Whin was not hurt at all by her earning a 70% last weekend)

But she has continued her superb attitude and we had a quick little ride yesterday 1. because no one turned on the lights in the arena (I don't have access to the room where the light switch is) 2. because she was an angel!

our second level test said that we didn't have enough bend in the 10 meter circles so we worked on that a bit. Did oodles of transitions (Carl Hester says do 200 transitions a day) and worked on half pass. She did every thing very nicely  so we stopped and I feed Whin copious amounts of cookies!

 Which Brings me to a product review

 

Mrs. Pastures horse cookies!

According to Whin they are the most delicious thing in the world along side her Safe Choice Performance.

Seriously, I think I have mentioned on this blog that Whin is a bit of a flirt, ok a huge flirt, so Whin was flirting with all the horses and calling an carrying on when  I unscrewed the lid of the cookie jar.
NOTHING else in the world mattered to Whin. Geldings who cares, all of her focus was on me and these cookies. She loves them!
The only down side is that they are a little large and hard to fit in your teeny tiny breeches pockets.
They may even play a roll in Whins angelic behavior.

so 4 hooves up for Mrs. Pastures!


All King Edwards Horses Can Make Best Friends

Sunday, June 22, 2014

Second Level Debut


Whin and I went to our first Rated Show together.  I have only been to 2 rated shows and that was nearly 10 years ago!

I don't know why but sometimes it seems like things just go wrong when preparing for horse shows. I was going to try wire to Braid Whins mane but I couldn't find it so I threw in some rubber bands which I was less than thrilled about.

So by this time I am running late due to the braiding issue and Panda finding a dead mouse and using it as a chew toy. She knew I was going to try to get it away from her so she escaped and I had to chase her down.

Then as  I was trailering I ran into a Parade and drove around for 15 minutes before I decided to double back and take another route.

I finally made it to the show late and flustered, but a really nice lady helped me back my trailer in  which helped relieve stress, however I managed to lose my phone, It had dropped down into the parking lot dirt, I found it before an one ran it over thank goodness.

Whin came off the trailer like a fire breathing dragon, So I threw her tack on her and we went into warm up.

I was still quite flustered and Whin was still a bit fire breathing so we walked for a long time. There was a Friesan in the warm up that Whin didn't like and so we had little mini meltdowns every time we passed him. but finally he went to do his test and both me and Whin settled down.

Whin really started to go well and all of my nerves melted away. I actually learned a really good thing in that warm up. half halts need to come from the leg, almost completely for Whin she just sort of compresses her self if I do that.

I also periodical need to push my hands forward to help her come over the back more.

So our turn came up and we entered the ring. I did feel that it was the best test I had ridden.  we had a spook in the stretchy circle  but she came back to me really quickly and stretched way down but the circle was a weird shape and then on our 15 meter canter circle I got so caught up on getting her more through that I forgot to steer. but every thing else I felt good about.

As we were warming up for our second test my friend came over to the rail with a big smile on her face. I stopped to talk to her and she congratulated me, I guess I didn't respond correctly because she asked me If I had seen my test I answered no, she gave me the good news that I had gotten a 70%.  I was over the moon, its the highest score I have ever gotten and we got it at our first rated show!

Whin felt with me in the second warm up which she isn't always on the second one. and we went in to do our Second Level debut. as we were rounding the corner to enter at A Whin spooked and took off head in the air at a wild gallop into the arena.
I couldn't help but grin madly at our modification to the test , enter A Wild gallop x halt salute.  She came back to me quickly but It threw off the first 2 scores.  I felt pretty good about the second test there was still some steering errors (really when I learn how to steer it will help my scores) Whin was willing but tiered so we lost some of the spark, but I felt we put in a good test.




We scored 62% my goal had been to get above a 60% so goal achieved, Now if I can learn to steer we will be doing great!

Also It was a secret goal of mine to score a 70% at first level before I moved on so It was a great day for achieving goals!


All King Edwards Horses Can Make Best Friends

Monday, April 14, 2014

Short and Sweet

My weeks have been a bit crazy, I am selling at the Local Comic Convention at the end of the week and so riding has been taking a bit of a back seat.
I did have a lesson last week. It was good we went out to my trainers to ride in her arena.  Whin was a freight train.
She doesn't usually get like this when she is excited usually she becomes hotter and lighter in the forehand, on Thursday she was heavy and just didn't have breaks.

We muddled through 2nd level test 2 and 3. I actually found test 2 easier than test 1.  but there is no way I am going to fake it in second level if she is like that, First level I think we could pull off even if she isn't super ridable but second no way!

We did have lovely Mediums though She could have had more lift in the forehand. I suppose it will all work out even if we do make a total mess of our test the first few times out.

Sunday, April 6, 2014

Weekend Review

I was painting a picture to go with this post but, I decided to just post with out it since I have a booth selling art at a local comic convention next week and I am crazy busy trying to get ready for that.

Last Thursday I had a lesson.  We ran through second level test 1. Oh boy am I out of practice with my geometry. Um lets just say that we kind of looked drunk making our way around the menage.
 I have been going on about changes for weeks now and they are finally getting a bit better, however we tried to do the serpentine at the canter and what does Miss smarty pants do...
 flying changes, nice clean ones.

Just 2 weeks ago we could counter canter on circles bending to the inside...
#dressagequeenproblems

I suppose it was to be expected, and secretly I am not %100 displeased with this development. But to get her to stay on the counter canter I have to sit to the outside, and I mean I feel like Squanto leaning off the side of my horse!


Friday we did Hill work

Saturday we jumped

and I have video evidence!
2 feet, the highest Whin has jumped. I know its tiny still, but for a couple of dressage diva's its a big deal!

We have to trot the jump because I don't remember well enough what the striding is so I just sit there ready for two point, and poor Whin is like "you tell me what to do every stride, and you abandon me now!?!" and that results in us knocking it over because we never actually jump.

But considering 2 months ago we were having conniption fits about a 6" bounce we have made good progress!

Monday,  we worked on halts. because they don't exist. Some how the further up the levels we go the worse are halts get.

Now they are halt almost square, then do the hokey pokey and turn yourself around.  I think it is because I am asking Whin to be more forward and more hot,as a result she can no longer hold still.

In the end we got a few decent halts, with Whin's diva personality we halt and I have to immediately start patting her and telling her how wonderful she is so that she will relax and understand that this is what she is supposed to do.

All King Edwards Horses Can Make Best Friends

Wednesday, April 2, 2014

New Coaster!

I have been experimenting  with new colors of coasters.

So far I am happy with a really light one with dark paint

I have also been experimenting with different types of paint, because spray paint does not agree with me.  It is fun to get messy, I work digitally so much these days its rare that I get my hands messy (at least while painting)


I have some dark tiles that I am experimenting with too


Once I get one that I am happy with on the dark tile I will post it.

And here is a coaster in use!



I am having tons of fun with these coasters! I feel that I will need to have a hot chocolate party so that I have an excuse to use them!


All King Edwards Horses Can Make Best Friends

PS If you are interested in the light coasters they are available on my Etsy Shop, just follow the link on the side of this blog.


Video


I got to ride Whin today, seriously I feel like I haven't hardly ridden her lately. It was a snowy cold day today which had Whin a little on edge.

Before I even got on Whin was giving me the signs that she might be evil twin today (She actually is a twin)  So I started off with some ground work to try to get her brain with me. I did some turns on the forehand, halts and turn on the haunches. When she was able to halt I hopped on and started our ride. A friend was there so I forced her to take pics.

They aren't the best quality and she was only there for the warm up but I just cant get enough pictures of my Whin!


We just worked on shoulder in haunches in, because that is a nice controlled exercise, she wanted to blow up once but she let me diffuse it.
We did do some Canter shoulder in she thinks that is hard. I haven't done very much lateral work in the canter so it is time to get on that!

The good news is that now I am feeling confident in my canter walk transitions. We got every tranistion but one, and I knew she wasn't collected enough to do it. So as long as I stick to my guns and collect her canter, I think those will not be a problem.



I am just crossing my fingers that this video works. This is also from out warm up. Please don't Judge us too harshly!


All King Edwards Horses Call Me Blessed Fool

Tuesday, April 1, 2014

Catdog

Cat like behavior #1 hanging out in window sills
cat like behavior #2 sleeping on the back of couches
Cat like behavior #3 playing with yarn

Neglect

My poor Whin has been so neglected. she had three days off. I finally managed to sneak in a ride on her yesterday.
I have been riding in the arena quiet late at night so I surprised when the arena was full, and I am not sure that Whin ever goes out of heat so, I was a little nervous.

It's also nerve racking because some of the other riders were barrel racers which means they go from 0-30 in about 5 seconds, Whin thinks that they are spooking or something because she usually reacts to them but yesterday she was not bad, we had a few mini reactions but nothing big.

She even got so good I though I would try some flying changes. At first she wouldn't collect in the canter she would be flat and then when I asked for more collection she broke to the trot, I gave her a few taps and she decided she could manage to come up instead of just breaking gait.
I discovered something,with the changes, It will have to change eventually  but it works better for now.  My trainer was telling me to switch the position of my leg  before I asked for the change. I think she meant with in the same stride but I started doing a stride before I ask and then Whin started to do changes.
For now I will keep this up but I realize it will have to go faster, eventually for tempis.

another thing I discovered are


 These^^ I love them.
 Whey are perfect for an after ride wipe down. I got a bit carried away cleaned my saddle, girth, and both bridles. But everything needed a cleaning!

All King Edwards Horses Can Make Best Friends

PS I am sorry I wanted to post new coasters this weekend but it got kinda crazy. I will keep you posted.

Friday, March 28, 2014

Bit of a Catch up

Wed. was supposed to be rainy  but it only rained for a few hours and then got sunny again, so I get home from work eat some food and go down stairs to change in the breeches, I come back up and look out the window, Whin is bucking around like a lunatic. And it hits.
A blizzard.
And it went from slightly cloudy to this 

View photo.JPG in slide show

In roughly 15 minutes, I  Braved the cold and hooked up my trailer and rode in the indoor.
Whin was very in heat and we trailered my friend and her gelding over too, that might have had something to do with it.

Lets just say if I went into Whin's behavior while I was tacking up This would not be a family friendly blog.

But under saddle she was pretty good very nice and forward, we took it pretty easy and did some transitions. I also rediscovered the upward half halt, its amazing how you forget things, again I really like it. It has really been helping her come light and bring her poll up.
When Whin was still a greeny I moved up to the middle of nowhere  to go to college, there was no one there to help us with dressage and Whin was a wild child so say the least so I taught her to relax and stretch long and low.
For the rest of college.
So you can understand why 2 years ago when I started taking lessons again Whin thought she was a western pleasure horse. We have been working against that ever since, so bringing the poll up and sitting behind is a big deal.

Yesterday I had my lesson,
It was wonderful.
 After watching myself on video Monday I was feeling insecure. I questioning weather or not we are ready to make the step up to second level because the canter walk transitions were very spotty. So when my trainer asked what I wanted to work on that is what I said.  
Right away my trainer was like " you need to collect her more" and it was like the heavens opened  and angles sang, we could suddenly do canter walk transitions. We got them every time.

Then we worked on the flying change again. If you have been following this blog you know that we have worked on these for a while with varying degrees of success. She got pretty good with the left to right when we were jumping and not in a frame but the moment we were in a frame they went away. 
The first couple tries she absolutely did a change of lead through trot. 
Then my trainer said
"collect her more"
I asked and viola, a change, it was half a step late behind and she had to buck to get her feet in the right place, but it's the first time I feel like she is truly understanding what I am asking for
we got to more changes one on time still with a buck and the other slightly late  but with out a buck.
Needless to say I felt like this was huge progress!

Oh collection is a magical thing!


All King Edwards Horses Can Make Best Friends


P.S. I got some new stuff to make more coasters I am hoping to put some pictures of them up tomorrow!




Tuesday, March 25, 2014

Burst My Bubble


I Videoed my ride yesterday....
 Let's just say that it was kind of like those Memes
What I think I do

and what I actually Do

 
 
Ok maybe these are a bit extreme, I am well aware I don't ride like Charlotte, and we are not quite as bad as the bronc picture. But I think I am riding and have soft hands ect. but just like in the picture my right hand is going all over the place. And my body subtly rocks side to side so I am unintentionally see- sawing her mouth all the time...

And I think what is my problem!

I guess the first part of fixing a problem is knowing it exists, back to putting my knuckles together as I ride to keep that rouge right hand in control, I hope that, that will also stop the rocking side to side.

And the worst part was we had a rodeo and the battery died before it could catch it on tape!

On the good side, I got Whin clean enough to be presentable on video, and her frame is slowly but surely sitting more behind and lifting in front.

Also from a feel perspective and video perspective the canter is going great, the last 2 rides Whin has magically become very light and soft. From a video perspective  my right hand is more under control and my shoulders don't rock back and forth.

So Whin is doing great and I ride lousy, ohh well I am easier to fix!

Friday, March 21, 2014

Etsy Shop

All King Edwards Horses
now has an Etsy Shop


is the link, please tell your friends about it!

For ordering coasters please check my Etsy shop 

Tuesday, March 18, 2014

Painting


Painting on tiles.

Those of you following this blog probably know that Paint, So when my friend wanted me to paint horses on to tile for her new home I couldn't refuse.


She had beautiful stone tile.

I wanted the beauty of the original stone to show through so I thought that doing simple line work would be the best choice.


the paint was tricky at first... according to youtube I needed a primer and then a paint... but that was difficult to find, in the end I got a primer/paint in a spray can.


I did a test tile and used  a wet rag and steel wool to make sure that the paint would stay on the tile... luckily it did. painting on tile can be tricky I think it helped that this was stone rather than ceramic.

I sprayed a bit of the primer/paint on a paper plate (never put spray paint on plastic, it eats through and you end up with Jackson Pollack graffiti on the floor. Not that I would know from experience... of course not) and used a brush to paint it on the tiles.


over all I am happy with how they turned out, I hope my friend likes them!


I have been getting a lot of good feed back about these, I am working on getting together an etsy shop with similar items. In the mean time if you would like something similar please email me at  kimberlistudio@gmail.com

Monday, March 17, 2014

Weekend

Last Saturday we had a jump lesson. Whin may be a jumper yet, She is starting to pick up her feet and actually jump over them. (even though they are itty bitty little things...hey what do you want from a couple of aspiring Dressage Queens?) And when I remember that I don't have to suddenly throw my reins away a stride before the jump she went over them nice and calm.

You would think that I would figure out the whole nice calm riding thing because I have focused on dressage for the last 11 years...but my crazed eventing days come back, and all of a sudden I think we need to fly at the 12 inch jumps to make it over. 
(yes I realize that, that is not a safe way to jump but I fear that I was "that girl" in my eventer days fortunately I had a gem of a jumper that saved my behind all the time, in fact if I tried to take more control she was kind of like "get outta my way kid")

We also have gotten semi reliable at changes after jumps... the problem being, that we aren't really collected which is  the point in dressage, the moment I want her in a nice frame she seems to forget how to do them.

After I went to a improve your seat clinic, it was also somewhat of a save your back clinic. It was really good.  I learned loads of excises to help you strengthen your core and keep your back healthy. In fact my hip which is in pain often, stopped hurting after wards. I think I will keep the exercises and stretches going because I feel so much better.

Yesterday I washed Whins tail. At the clinic I saw a tail that was to die for, it was short just at the hocks and I decided that Whins tail should be shortened, its not quiet as short (some times Whin thinks she is an Arab and holds her tail quiet high) or as full (she rubs out her tail every time she goes into heat) but it looks nice now, she is no longer the hippy horse with dreads in her tail.

I tend to be hands off with tails and trimming, I feel that tails break off less when they aren't groomed so I usually only brush when we are going to shows, that leaves the whole winter for it to grow out.  I also leave a bit of feathers on her legs and I leave all her whiskers, and the hair inside her ears so that she can be protected from bugs.

I have yet to find a fly veil (for riding) that fits her adorable giant ears.

All King Edwards Horses Can Make Best Friends

Thursday, March 13, 2014

Lesson

Whin practicing being a giraffe and modeling her "winter blue" out fit by Horze.

We had our lesson today, we were reviewing stuff from second level, as that is what I am aiming to show at this upcoming season.

Whin did very well, we did rein back, simple changes, medium trot, and the counter canter serpentine. The hard thing about the rein back will be the halt. For what ever reason she doesn't think that she can hold still, so that is what I will continue to work on over the next little while.  Our last rein back was good she took nice big steps.

Whin was really forward today so the mediums were nice, I actually had to back off and ask for a little less because she was just trying so hard she was unbalancing herself.

We got some really nice simple changes, I still  have to work on not letting her get flat before I ask and not asking too much, When I ask right we get very nice transitions.


All King Edwards Horses Can Make Best Friends

Wednesday, March 12, 2014

Canter transitions

I worked on transitions yesterday, with in the gait and between gaits, Whin did really well. Whin likes to lean on the reins or I like to hold(...which came first the chicken or the egg). any ways I have been trying to lighten all my aids not grip with my leg not hold with my hands. I think I am getting better, but I still have a long ways to go.

Whin was great though she was lighter than normal and our canter is really starting to improve, simple changes get her excited but also get her very balanced. We also got a clean change, I was very  pleased with that. It was right lead to left lead. That seems to be her easier way.  Considering I hadn't tried them in a week and a half I am really pleased that she got one! 

I will continue with trying the changes once every ride, that seems to  be  enough that she gets the idea in her head but not so much that she gets upset about them.

Today will be a hack day. Whin's and my brain need a break!

All King Edwards Horses Can Make Best Friends

Monday, March 10, 2014

Hey all, I didn't manage to get pictures of our newly completed "winter blue" outfit. Or our sparkly whip. However I was very proud of Whin today.
1. she hasn't been ridden in a week
2. she is in raging heat
3. there were near hurricane conditions today (ok I am exaggerating but only slightly)

And Whin kept it together.  Only one time when we were doing half pass did she try to rocket off but she came back very quickly and we went on our way half passing across the arena.

We worked on lateral work on the circle, shoulder in to haunches in to shoulder in to haunches out to shoulder out, and so forth.  In all the gaits. Whin is wonderful in the walk the slightest shift of weight and she will change bend. 

She felt the canter shoulder in was very hard, but after some coaxing she went along quiet well.  The shoulder out in the canter was easy oddly enough and it really helped her to jump more in the canter.

I was very pleased with her today!

All King Edwards Horse Can Make Best Friends

Sunday, March 9, 2014

The Common Cold

Whin is finally over her cold!
And polo wraps to match this set^^ arrived yesterday!
Along with a bling dressage whip.  I will try to convince some one to take pictures tomorrow.
The saddle pad and fly veil are Horze brand, and they seem very well constructed, The polos (not pictured) are also Horze and they came in a very nice sturdy bag (not a flimsy one that will easily fall apart) and came with a wash bag. I have yet to wrap them but the fabric seems to be a nice thickness. I am incredibly pick about my polo wraps.

Whin also got her teeth checked and shots on Saturday so we should be good to go this show season.
however I had her tied to my friends trailer when she got very excited and pulled back the little bit of metal broke right off the trailer and she went prancing through the neighbors yard then The vet, and my friends coaxed her into the pasture. 

Luckly I had already put her front shipping boots on so she was not hurt by the metal bit on her lead rope... but good grief, just when I think she is finaly growing up...

All King Edwards Horses Call Me Blessed Fool

PS. The bell boots are centaur they seem to be good for the price, and are so cute and sparkly.

Monday, March 3, 2014

Flying

On Friday, Whin was brilliant. 
I started asking her (leg then half halt)to sit a bit more and she did. She just floated, I was so proud of her.

Saturday we did another jump lesson. Whin really had  changed her mind about jumping... She stayed positive the whole time. The jumps were tiny 1' but she took them in stride she even started actually jumping over them instead of just trotting them like cavalettis. 

also my jump trainer decided I should  do flying changes if Whin landed on the wrong lead.  she put some poles down so after the jump I sat deep in my saddle half halted like crazy and asked for a change... and I rebalanced and asked over the second pole and I asked a stride after the pole and pop clean change!!!!

we had a few miss fires but we got a leaping but clean change the other way too ... so I am very pleased with her, 

She has gotten a snotty nose though so she is taking some time off. Whin is very displeased that I am taking her temperature often to make sure she isn't running a fever.

All King Edwards Horses Can Make Best Friends

Thursday, February 27, 2014

Barn Dog

Panda is learning to be a barn dog!
She has a healthy fear of Whin which I think is great, I would rather never have her chase Whin or be under Whin's feet.

Whin is learning to be a third level horse... well OK we have a long ways to go, but she is trying her heart out. We had a lesson and we worked on flying changes again (I swear by the time we get this we will have tried every trick in the book) We started out doing canter, walk leg yield the direction we were just cantering then pick up counter canter. 

Whin did well with it, she did keep bulging her left shoulder out, but she did well.

Then we tried flying change, She reacts now and she is trying her hardest to figure out what I want. to the right she was changing behind when I asked and then the front a while later, 
To the left she was changing the front and then the back... far from perfect but Whin sure is trying. I think if I play around with it enough she will start understanding.

She can do nice flying changes... just not when I ask for them. 
I am very pleased with Whin for trying so hard for me.

All King Edwards Horses Call Me Blessed Fool


PS I may or may not have ordered a little more Bling, and polos to match my new saddle pad.