No...LOL...I didn't sell him...
We RODE down the road and out into the field next door.
Of course, I didn't have my phone on me to document the monumental event. :-(
It's not the first time he has been ridden outside the confines of an arena fence. I have ridden him several times in my fenced in yard in Arizona and he did well there. But it is the first time he has been ridden outside the confines of ANY fence.
From our last trip to AZ...
He was a perfect gentleman. Although, I suspect he is so used to being ponied to and around those fields, to him it was nothing all that interesting. Maybe not all that spectacular to him...But a huge milestone in my book.
I dunno how long it will take to get this horse ready to start on the barrel pattern, but in the meantime, we have been working on Showmanship execution and I am gearing him toward the Hunter Under Saddle class for winter shows in AZ. We have a long way to go in that department. His trot is coming, but his lope is horrendous. Herky, jerky, stiff and very uncomfortable for both of us. But the first show I'll be able to make it to is in December, so maybe it will come around by then. If not, I do believe they have walk/trot classes and if I have to, I'll just enter those. One way or the other, the big bay is make his debute in the show world by the end of the year. ;-)
7 comments:
I really respect that way you work with what you have if that makes sense. That you don't push farther than you have to with one of your horses. You let them figure it out and work with what they give you. I hope that makes sense hahaha, it's a compliment. The way you say hey, if you're not ready for w/t/c we'll do walk/trot is awesome. Too many people push and push and do more damage than good, then have to go back and fix it. Do it right the first time, that way you don't have to fix it! :)
He has come a long way- I remember some of your earlier posts about some of his issues. Just how big is he?
Shirley, he is 16.2 (actually 16.1 and 3/4ths). Not quite as big as I thought he was initially. I had guessed him to be around 16.3, but when I noticed that Shooter was almost as tall as Jet, I finally sticked them. Shooter is 15.3 (and a 1/2)...and I have absolutely NO idea how/when that happened. Shooter is my 'baby' boy, he's not supposed to be that big. LOL. Being around Jet must have gotten me used to 'big' because when I had all of the boys in Utah last weekend, everyone was commenting on my gigantic horses...
And then there is LJ...who isn't quite 14.2. Riding him feels like riding a pony compared to my other geldings. Hahahaha
Boy he sure has come a long way! You have done such great work with him after all his issues. Glad you stuck with it not every one would
Yay for both of you. He has come a long way and I'm pretty sure he knows it too. It will be fun to see the show pics if there are any. You're two are the size of my two and last time we were at Cindy's she told Melody they made her look small. Lol
Have you tried working him in the lines at the lope? Maybe there's something going on with him that you see visually and can pin down, that for some reason doesn't make sense when riding him? Worth a shot if nothing else.
It's mostly just a lack of coordination and muscle strength. He's surprisingly weak. I was working him in long lines for conditioning, but he is well over 6 months on his injections and I can see he is starting to have trouble with his right stifle again. Until I get him re-evaluated and get his injections re-upped, I won't be working him in small circles.
His hocks look good and he showing some significant remodeling in his lower legs, so I am hoping that the only injections he will need from now on is the stifles. That may yet be a conditioning thing or it may be a forever maintenance thing. Only time will tell.
Oh Bubbles! You are a handsome devil! Seriously, he looks fabulous! Glad things are coming along on him. But then I never had any doubt! LOL
Post a Comment