Nicole was introduced to the double bridle yesterday because she is now through on both sides in all 3 gaits. She was less than thrilled about it, but her throughness is even more improved now, and the quality of her gaits has improved. I will have to video soon, but not this month. Like I said, she was less than thrilled with her new bridle, and kept flipping her head.
In the snaffle, I had to use more hand than I like and than I have to use with other horses because of her initial training, and tendency to become heavy. In the double, I find that I have to use a LOT less hand, which I like, but is taking some time to get used to. For once she wasn't interested in spooking in the corners because she was so distracted by the bridle. It will be interesting to see how she progresses with it.
I also realized that the spooking decreases when I properly put my leg on her, and I mean really put it on her, which I wasn't doing before. I was making her forward, but not putting my leg on her. How can that be? I realized because she's so short (15.3 hands), I don't have my legs on her like I do on taller horses. Putting my leg on her now is an exercise in origami, since I have to fold myself to make my legs fit. I'm 5'10". However, when I do properly fold myself and keep my leg on her, she has much less opportunity to spook, because the spooking (i.e. lack of throughness) originated with her swinging her haunches. Lose the haunches, lose the throughness. Basically, I moved my leg about 2 inches back, and 1 inch up, and it's been a whole new world since then.
