Zoe has been more than a handful the past couple of rides. She is so full of energy, I can barely keep her to a walk. I made up my mind that I wouldn't allow her to trot until I achieved a decent walk and stop. Yesterday it took almost 10 minutes to get her to fully stop at the mounting block while I got on and another full 30 minutes to get a single circuit of the round pen at the walk....we never did try (purposefully) trotting - although she had trotted plenty! I was so frustrated with her at that point that I wanted to get off at the first "good moment" I could find. After talking to E about my not-so-fun ride, we both decided that perhaps I should go back to the harsher (Western curb) bit for a while to re-establish some control over my rushing, headstrong horse. Crossing my fingers that that helps.
Catherine has been riding Monte fairly regularly. She seems to enjoy riding him and even commented that he is easier than Zoe, which I would agree is true in some respects. He is much more willing to please his rider and he is super responsive to the slightest cue. It's really just his spookiness that makes him a non-beginner horse.
