"You must in all Airs follow the strength, spirit and disposition of the horse, and do nothing against nature; for art is but to set nature in order, and nothing else." – William Cavendish, 1st Duke of Newcastle

Peppa The Horse Pig and I had finally graduated into the indoor arena out of the round pen.

She was being good. We went through her gaits around the arena with her little black nose on the bit, very contrite. I was extremely pleased with her.

“Now it is time to start to teach her leg-yields.” My teacher spoke up from his horse after watching us go for a few minutes.

I was excited for this. It felt like we had waited forever to start working on the lateral movements. We rode up the quarter track, and I placed my right calf on her side to push her laterally towards the wall.

“EEEEEEEee!” She squealed and charged off.

We galloped to the far corner of the arena.

“What was that?!” My instructor called from his horse.

I don’t know. Disobedience, I guess.

I turned her around and halted for a moment.

“Maybe I kicked her too hard.”

He scoffed.

“Get her trotting again, this time be ready in your position to catch her in the bridle when she charges off. She is not allowed to charge off with you like that.”

I nodded and kicked her back into the trot. We lapped the arena once.

Calf, hands. I braced my hips. A little bit of calf.

“EEEEEEEEEEEEE!!” Her head flipped in the air as she grabbed the rein and tried running away with me. I slid my right hand down the rein and pulled her nose to my knee. We spun very quickly in some tight circles.

“Again.”

I drove her harder into the trot. Now I had a strong hold of her face. I came up the quarter track and kicked her mightily with my calf.

“Ooof,” this time she grunted. Then she stepped laterally.

“Goooood! See, that wasn’t so hard … Cripes!” My teacher called. I smiled.

She could listen. We would be Grand Prix yet.