Tiffany – Baby Doll training – Days 1,2 and 3

Baby Doll is a 9 yr old Appaloosa mare without spots. Never been broke, although incredible friendly (basically treated like a dog the last 7 years or so). Owners would like to trail ride and eventually barrel race.

Day 1 and 2: Learning Frame of Mind and Round pen work on a line to get consistent forward motion.

Day 3: Saddle introduction and round pen work – walk, trot, canter at liberty.

BD’s movement is interesting around the round pen. At the walk her hindquarters appear to be more level than at the trot. Although she is not bringing her head down level to her withers, her hips to not tilt as noticeably

When she is trotting, no matter the direction, the outside hip is always higher than the inside hip. If the right side is higher, is she sort-striding on the outside leg?

I have been watching her movement very closely at the trot and canter. She is weaker on the left hind going to the left and cannot maintain gait for long periods of time without breaking down to a trot. To the right she is more consistent. I thought this imbalance would be more noticeable at the trot, but she seems to be equally tilted regardless of direction at the trot. In both pictures above the far hind leg is out behind her, but her hip is still noticeably higher than the closest hind. I guess I thought the far hip would level out more, especially when she does not have weight on it in that moment.