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Funny. You were talking about not getting dumped yet and it reminded me of something. The trainer made a remark again that balance was going to be harder for me to manage than others because I'm top heavy. I commented "yeah, I know. I'm overweight but I'm working on it". She told me that wasn't what she meant. She said I'm short but my upper torso long and my legs short so I have more to balance and less legs to control with? Yall heard anything like this?

That's a yes and no thing. Yeah it helps to have longer legs for leg control, but a good seat, which I have always said you have is more important IMO. Keep your center of gravity, keeping shoulders, hips, heels in a straight line, and the hardest part of balance is over. It looks/looked (from pictures, and when you were here,) that you do that, my feet always tended to drift back behind my shoulders which cause me to lean forward, which made me top heavy.

I was impressed with how you stayed straight when you you were here, which you maintained even when Okie broke into a trot. IMO, you have a naturally good seat, I had to concentrate on that alot.

Your post made me think of a lady we have watched barrel race alot. I'd say she was shorter in the legs, and very heavy, and that woman could fly around the barrels, on huge horses. Don't let her comment get to you. Your balance is fine.

Your getting dumped was caused by too things, 1. lack of experience which will come with practice, and 2. it's hard for most people to stay on a horse bucking that hard.
I'd tell the lady, I'm more concerned with making sure the horse doesn't do that anymore. IMO, she's just trying to shift the blame to you. She has to be at least slightly embarassed about the whole deal with that horse. Truth is, I am surprised that with her "knowledge" she wasn't more leary of buying a horse from a dude string, unless she thought you'd never go out on her by herself. The fact that that guy can ride her by herself, doesn't mean a thing. "Trainers" can make alot of rank horses look good.

Is this guy still riding her the 10 times like he was suppose too? That is what I would be demanding. Someone putting lots of time on her by herself. Not any 10 minute little jaunts out and back. And I wouldn't be paying for it either. She sold you this horse knowing where you were at in your experience. She should be willing to make it right, or give you your money back.

Becky