Snow Days

I'm thinking the beast is already starting to show some weight changes since our regular riding schedule has begun.

Last lesson we worked on transitions - yay! - which Max had an opinion about. Once Peter saw his buck he laughed and told me I'd be okay on this horse. I had to quit giggling, myself, to properly scold him. We also touched on walking nose-out, or shoulder-thru, which he caught onto very quickly. Lastly, we introduced the idea of breaking at the poll with bit massage. Peter doesn't call it that, but influence from my Chris Irwin days shines through in this. I've been good about practicing at home, 2 or 3 times a week. Today I got to do it in daylight so I snapped a photo! He's standing on a slight hill, hence the tilt of my saddle. I just ADORE his barogue look!



We spent some family time outside, trying out my son's new saddle and teaching all three horses what riding together looks and feels like. Bill wasn't too keen on ponying, but Max acted like an old pro. Scout sure is a trick to keep bringing along. He wants to plug his nose in someone's bum and follow along, just like a good little baby. He didn't even bat an eye at the saddle going on, it being the second time ever and hardly registered Kaleb's assisted mount-up. He toddled our toddler around like a superb old show horse. I just love that little pony! It won't be long before we can all hit the trail.

I Have Homework & I'm Happy!!

Monday dawned the first day of my new lesson program with Mostus (That'd be Max With the Most-ust). My new favourite coach: 78 year-old Calvaryman horse trainer, Peter. Don't recall his last name but I ADORE the man. He did not even bother to ask what I was looking to get out of my lessons - he already knew. First step, get the beast MOVING. Without forward motion we cannot work on anything else. I should, in fact, not be the part of our duo doing all the work. Huh. Some consistent and loud cues with a crop and heck, I almost remember what it feels like to be carried by a horse! AND he's retaining his learning.

A juicy tangerine moon lit the arena for us tonight. The temps were pleasant, the tiniest breeze tickling my nose now and then. Our lesson was short. As soon as he showed consistent understanding of what I was looking for, I called it. With no sun to keep him warm during cool-down, I can't afford to sweat him up. He's an emo sweater, too... work his brain up a little much and he'll be drenched with next to no physical exertion.

Our exercises tonight consisted of brisk walking, followed by lots of transitions from stop to walk. As in, walk off NOW. No more dawdling for us. He was starting to lose his stop after a few repetitions, anticipating the departure so we went back to backing after stop, deep breath at the halt and then DEPART.

I'm really excited to show Peter our progress. If it's this good after only 30 mins of homework, giddy up! I can actually see us being a cohiesive, communicating, giving & taking riding unit! So much so, I'm considering our little bumpkin horse show this summer - eeek! I've never competed in my LIFE!! Fun fun!!

I took the boy's nap time yesterday to try out his new saddle on his young pony. Scout will be two this June. He's already been carrying around our 25-lb toddler, bareback on the lead. A wonderful friend was very generous this Christmas, gifting Kaleb with the saddle her girls first learned on.

I had little doubt this brilliant little pony would have an issue with the saddle itself. I've put some pretty outrageous things on his back with barely an ear twitch in response. The cinch I was not so sure about and I did not do it up very tight at all. I want to keep this experience a happy one. He chewed on the latigoes a tad, tasted the stirrup covers and asked me what was next. We walked around, even remembering what trotting on lead was all about. Blink. Blink.

He does not yet know how to lunge (don't much believe in it for young, developing joints), but we began that lesson with the saddle on. He was slightly confused that the whumping carrot stick suddenly meant "move" rather than "ignore". I was careful to make my lead line cue, "point" very obvious. Once he gave me a few steps moving off, I stopped and rubbed him all over. He loves that. We almost had a full circle each way when I called it quits. I love how I work in tiny spurts with this boy and he just soaks it all up, leap-frogging forward every time!

I have no concerns tossing Kaleb up on that saddle. We'll leave the bit and bridle for much later, especially in the toddler's hands, though I'm slightly eager to do some ground driving. Think I'll wait until the air warms up enough that I don't have to warm the bit myself!! Yikes.