Animals of the outside world. Braymere Custom Saddlery: Zoo Dogs.
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Boogie
Stepping Stone Farm
Saddle seat lesson
August 2025
Today’s revelation is that horses have two sides.
ASBs go straight. If they are on a circle – say in a small covered ring – they go straight. At any point on the circle, their bodies are along a line that is perpendicular to the radius of the circle. No gentle bend. No seeing the inside eye. Straight.
I know this.
This lesson was with Coach Courtney. A while back, I had a wonderful lesson on straightness with Coach James. This mostly comes up at the beginning of my rides, i.e. first direction.
Back in the present, I was having trouble in the second direction. A little bit too much weight to the inside on the part of the rider is often a problem when heading this way. The horse was closer to the fence than my toes might have liked. I tried to steer my way out of it. Then, I remembered the James lesson. I asked Boogie to go in straight line. Et voila. Problems solved.
I can’t explain the geometry. It probably has to do with asking the horse to maintain their balance, to use both hind legs, and not to let the shoulder drop to the inside.
I know this.
Amazingly, this works in BOTH directions. Fancy that.
Onwards!
Katherine
Virtual Brush Box 
And then back to hunt seat, where you want that gentle bend, seeing the inside eye. That has got to be confusing.