Bella pony
This little horse was a mess, when I met her. Any pressure, whatsoever, sent her into a frenzy. The first time I asked for trot, while on her back she got so amped up she couldn’t stop, without me hitting the emergency break. She would bite at her sides (she still does this sometimes) when she felt too stressed. This behavior is present, even when she’s just doing ground work, but it’s getting less and less often. I’ve worked really hard to help her find calm while working. Today she offered trot, several times, and came back to halt and walk easily. Because her first response was to run as fast as she could away from my legs, in the beginning, we’ve been walking, and then walking some more. I didn’t want her stressed. Luckily, her owner is in complete support of doing whatever Bella needs, and isn’t in a hurry. This is not a perfectly relaxed trot, but it is on her terms and at her offering. I couldn’t be more pleased with this girl!