Because I do not board my horses with my trainer, I have learned to be more independent than many of my peers.  Most days I ride on my own, with occasional input from my mom, who is a professional.  However, her schedule is often full, so I need to take initiative if I want to improve. 

I have begun to incorporate more no-stirrups work into my daily rides in order to strengthen my legs and secure my seat.  I also develop some of my own exercises, along with using ones from Val's and my mom's lessons, to solve problems my horse and I may have.