Indy's first bit

I've always ridden Indy in a hackamore. Today I decided to see how she'd handle a bit.

After grooming and saddling, I took her into the paddock to review the 7 games again. She was definitely better today. Maybe I was more patient? Anyway, yoyo was nice and straight and responsive at phase 2. Circling was more consistent (and more round!). She did pull a bit to the outside at first, but eventually settled into a circle and even maintained gait. We did both directions a couple times at the walk and then moved on to driving and then sideways. She has a tendency to drift forward when I drive her front end around (much like Gypsy), but I was able to stop and check her back each time. Will have to keep at that until we can get a consistent step across in front without walking off. Her hind-end yield is nice. When she yields her hind end, she almost crosses in front of me with her head... almost like she's blocking me... probably is! Sideways was MUCH better this time. Probably because I stopped as soon as she got it right (go figure!). We repeated both sides 3 or 4 times and each time got a bit better and more controlled.

We did everything nice and slow today and it went well. I wonder how she'll do when I turn up the volume? She was almost sleepy today!

After all that, I went to grab the bridle and put it on. She stood nicely while I was trying to put the bridle on, but it was quite a while before I got the bit in her mouth. She tossed her head quite a bit and avoided the bit. I stopped a couple times and just rubbed her mouth until she stopped fussing. Then I tried the bit again. I managed to get it in her mouth and the bridle over her ears and then just left her alone to play with the bit. She rolled her tongue quite a bit above and below the bit trying to spit it out, rubbed her nose on the ground, tried to scratch it off with her hind foot, and shook her head a lot. After about 5-10 minutes she settled down and her mouth quieted.

I then started asking for lateral flexion using the reins. Lots of resistance at first. and more on her right side than her left. I think I asked about 15-20 times from each side before I felt she was starting to figure it out. Not really great, but coming along. I left it at that and put the hackamore back on her to ride her in. She's not quite responsive enough to be ridden with the bit yet, and I'm not sure enough of myself yet that I won't pull too hard in reflex if she does something unpredictable.

When I first got on her she just stood there and wouldn't move. Quite a bit different from the last time we rode and she could barely stand still. So it took a fair bit of encouragement and change of direction to get her moving. After she did get moving, her responsiveness was much better than the last time we rode. Her lines are straighter and she's starting to yield to my leg pressure better. We pretty much did everything at a walk today which was fine. It wasn't about the speed, but her responsiveness today. We weaved around some pylons and barrels did some sideways and hind end yields and some backing up and called it a day. Not too bad considering it's been about a month since I rode her last. I really have to get past this crazy busy summer so I can build some consistency in their training!