Still Truckin'

Duncan is doing better. He has been diagnosed with PSSM, so he can not eat any carbs or sugar. The lyme treatment is almost done so that's a relief! He also has a right hind stifle inflammation problem, so he is on previcox for that. He has to be on 20% fat a day in his grain (which, incase you didn't know, is pretty darn impossible, especially if you want them to stay a decent weight), and can not eat regular grain. He is also supposed to be worked 6 days a week and have as much time outside as he can. Preferable 24 hours, but 12 hours at the least. So we are trying to make that work. Although this is a lot, he is still rideable, and I have answers. I am so thankful for both of those things. I now know how to help him, and what to do, instead of searching endlessly - the whole time people telling me there was nothing wrong with my horse. It can only go up from here.. right?

His training  unfortunately is not as cut and dry and the medical answers. I am confused. I am without a trainer. I don't trust people very easily when it comes to training my horse, and I don't let very many people help me. I ask a lot of questions, not because I don't believe them, but because I want to ensure that they are having me do something that will not harm my horse. I have been so fortunate to have some great trainers and instructors, but am also disappointed when others do not live up to them. I don't have a Robyn and I don't have a Terry. Those are really the only two people I trust. When riding here everyone in the arena tries to tell you how to improve what you're doing. Although it is always helpful to have eyes on the ground, I don't want them. No, I don't trust other college students from who knows where teaching me how to train my horse. They may know what they're talking about, but at each of their riding levels they can't see the bigger picture, they can't feel what I'm feeling - they lack experience. Most of them, there are exceptions.

My problems:
- He doesn't back up softly; it's a battle
-He is too quick in his pace, but not off my leg
-He doesn't do the change direction thingy smoothly...at all
-He's scared of the Christmas decorations
-I am becoming a rider I don't like here
-I pull too much
-I have too much grey area in the reigns

Things to help that:
-Start slowly. Use leg to support him. In order to use leg to support him in transitions or in backing up he first has to respect my leg. Get the flag. Make him more responsive. Once he is more responsive, take it slow. Walk, stop, back up. Repeat. Trot, stop, back up. Repeat. Use my legs to aid him in that, my seat to compel him backwards, life my body, make him straight, DON'T PULL, but have pressure, open my hands wide and counter him where he isn't straight. Go back and reteach and relearn.
-Flag will enhance him moving off my leg. Use my seat better
-I have been trying the change direction thing forever. Use the flag until it gets better? Or start praying?
-GROUND WORK.. McClare style. He isn't going to have time to look at those Christmas decorations
-Watch Buck, talk to God, stop complaining about it and ride how you know. If people see my results they will see how I took a different route to get to the same destination
- Take a step back, slow things down, stop pulling, start asking. Soft Feel.
-Stop being afraid to pick up the reigns. Get in there, get it done, and get out. If I keep having that in between I will never get anywhere.