Oh we can be calm!

Well, calm-ish :)
Some people were out at the school barn today fixing the roof [oh thank goodness] so I opted out of riding miss Gypsy in the arena. Thought she wouldn't appreciate the banging and loud noises too much. So seeing as it was the only sunny day we've had in some time [sad sad rainy day], I decided to try riding outside again. As if I don't learn. But she was actually much better today!
Instead of going through the gate and then to the field and around, I went backwards today! Up the road, through the field, and then to the gate! And somehow, this was better in Gypsy's mind.
Either that, or the recent new development of her training has really put a better handle on her. Maybe a combo?
But yes she walked nicely up the road, and then [I was happily shocked] she walked calmly through a grassy path thing! I was very excited for this seemly easy-as-pie event. Because in Gypsy's little head, it certainly isn't easy as pie. Its more like making this extravagant multi-layered pie of goodness. But anyways. She picked up her usual prancing when we got out in the more open field. Eh, but it wasn't her worst prancing. It was semi-controlled prance, if there can be such thing! When we got to the path thing that led to the gate, she kinda came back down and walked half the time or so. But that is major progress for Gypsy! yay!

And speaking of Gypsy...I think I forgot to mention here the wonderful progress that is her training of late. I had been hitting a bit of a wall again, and her walk was falling into the abyss. But then my wonderful buddy came and gave me a mini lesson, to help her collect up and use her long-forgotten back and hind end, and come more on the vertical. I've been riding her like that since, and she is doing FABULOUS!
And I am really getting the feeling now that I've already written about this actually....
But whatever.
Had a couple days of just walking and learning to reach and like the bit contact, and now I'm adding trot back in very very slowly. And she is keeping her new lovely frame in the bit of trot I've done! Success! So lots and lots of walk-trot-walk-trots for Gypsy in the upcoming weeks. I would love to bring her to a schooling show and put her in a walk/trot class after this. Just to see what she would do :)