So I took extra time with little things before I got on. I made sure he would longe correctly for me, which was a total surprise. I thought he would be fighting, as usual, but I decided to go straight to the pole to help me so that way we wouldn't be set up for a fight, and he was very calm and nice about it. Then I made sure that I flexed and rubbed him really good on the ground before I got on and also stretched out his legs. When I got on, I didn't go after circle work since he was so good longeing, and I went on to the rail instead. I was just focused on getting him to walk and then stop and flex to the inside both directions around the arena with just the bosal rein. I left the bit rein tied up.
After he did that without any fights, I tied up the bosal rein and took up the bit rein and asked for a corto. It was like he had and epiphany. He was calm and gaited beautifully and stayed balanced and centered and didn't twitch of buck or fight. He even stayed on the wall. I didn't ride very long because I wanted him to remember this good ride and how happy I was with him.
I took him outside afterwards with Brie and Nina and we all walked around. It's funny, because when Brie starts getting ahead of everyone, my brother says "Nina, go get Brie!" and she takes off after Brie. I said "Harry, go get Nina!" and he took off after Nina. At first, he tried just largoing very fast, but he couldn't keep up, so he went into his very first mounted canter! I could tell as soon as he took off he wasn't balanced, so I slowed him back down while Nina and Brie slowed down. On the way back, in the back pasture, Brie and Nina took off again, and I let Harry go into a canter and he found his balance and it was one of the smoothest canters I've ridden! He was great!
I really don't know what to do about him. I want to call a chiropractor, but I don't want to call the chiropractor. Maybe I should wait a couple more weeks and see if he's any better?
