Well, we're going to work on leg yielding and side-passing... we aren't entirely sure how well she does either, but up until today, ecurbh wasn't using much leg at all just neck reining her, and she'd take him off into the shrubberies around puddles like those. We hadn't really talked about it, and a little leg, as well as slapping her once or twice seems to be all it took to get her to go through instead of around. She can really act like she's going to be a pill, but it really doesn't take a whole lot of correction to get your way.... she only puts up small fights.
That's the thing you just never know about a new horse. What is their limit. Takes alot of time and riding to find out. Small fights are nice. Harley still will avoid a puddle if I let him. If there is room I do, otherwise, we do some weaving, but I think I've seen his worst, and it's not bad. He will go, but it does require some spurs. My old legs just don't have alot of umph:). But a touch of the spur and straight he goes.
I figured out I still need the spurs with him for trails, but in the arena I'm taking them off.
Becky