So I had a very good ride today, even though I didn't have a whole ton of time (we work it into the day wherever it's convenient for the Doc to pause his workday.) As I was riding in the indoor my instructor trotted in from outside with no warning, as she didn't think anyone was around, and all Fi did was a little scoot- no big hysterics, just a very reasonable reaction to having Slew pop up behind her unexpectedly. My instructor asked whether Fi would have an issue if she did some jumping, and I replied that I didn't think so, but if she did it was something she would have to get used to. One can't have a horse that can't operate in a busy arena. So Slew did some jumping, and Fi and I worked on walk halts (she's been very resistant of late on nice square soft downward transitions; she throws herself on the forehand and plows through, so we've been going back to basics in a big way to get through this.) Slew was being a bit too quick and knocked down the Blok jump on the circle at A with a rather large crash, and Fi looked up, tensed a bit, and then I half-halted and told her we were working and she sighed and went back to her job. She didn't get bothered when Slew was cantered by us, trotting near us, jumping, fussing, being stopped by the wall, or knocking the jump over (again- she was having a bit of a day, I guess) and in all respects acted like a proper well-seasoned horse should. And later, when my instructor swapped horses she just scooted a bit again when the new horse came up in through the big doors (he was silhouetted against the bright outdoors while we were in the dim arena and it looked a bit like he'd appeared there suddenly) and then she came right back after a little urging. I don't block her in front in any way, since that seems to be her only real panic point; I just concentrate on keeping the energy moving forward and back like a wave box, and keeping the space in front of her open so she knows she always has an out, and she stays calm and reasonably obedient (we're working on the reasonably part, she is a lazy pony :) It was really very awesome!