Soft Hands

Yesterday, I taught a riding lesson to a cute 6 year old girl. She has been taking lessons off and on for the last couple of months. When I begin giving a student lessons, I have the students ride with a sidepull. They are working on gaining an independent seat and sometimes have a tendency to hang on the reins for balance or bump a horse's mouth. A sidepull is a bit more forgiving on the horse. Well, I told my student that she had graduated to the bridle and explained to her how the bit works and did the old wooden spoon in the mouth trick and we began the lesson. Wow! She had the softest and most giving hands of any beginner I have ever taught. Especially for such a young child. We progressed through the lesson and not once did she bang Sadie's mouth or hang on the reins. I was so proud of her! Now on to more leg cues and body cues! Before long she is going to graduate from Sadie to Brandy.
The Brat is doing great. She has some swelling under her neck at a puncture wound and her hind leg is still an issue, but her appetite is back and the michevious twinkle is back in her eye.