5k

So I have signed up for a 5K, the Resolution Run and it is happening tomorrow. I am fully expecting I may be walking for most of it, but I am going to try my hardest. I will walk for 30 seconds then run for 60 ... that is my strategy right now.

Frankly at this point I am most worried about parking at the event. Two thousand people have signed up for this thing.

My WW leader has given me my 5k charm already, so I won't be tempted to back out. I have left it in its plastic until I actually complete the run. She's going to be there too - participating in the Polar Bear Plunge part. I will not be doing that. No.

There is Chili and a Beergarden at the end of the race. That part I am doing.

Every ride I try to ride my best. I don't always achieve this, and it is hard not to beat myself up when I am just not feeling strong or sharp or what ever it is that I feel I am lacking. Because it is not just for me. I have an obligation, a responsibility to Kip. Sure, I train Kip so I will have a great partner to help me live out my dream of Eventing, but more importantly, I train him to give him the very best chance he can have in this world. A smart, willing, trained horse will pretty much always be able to find a home, no matter what happens to me. So every ride I try to build my skill level, because Kip sure as heck is building his -- He is better every single ride. It is really amazing. In my lesson last night, I was expressing my frustration with myself for not always supporting him with my leg to get that nice, bouncy canter to the fence. I guess I was being kind of hard on myself, because my trainer said that I had done an extremely good job with Kip, that I had not taken one misstep in his training, and that his amazing progress was because I was a good rider. I almost burst into tears.

Every morning I re-pledge my self to sticking to my WW points allowance, and getting some exercise. And every day it is really a struggle. News flash, I know. This last week has been a complete over-points-fest, with Crush dinner, my birthday, Thanksgiving, Thanksgiving leftovers, and then my birthday again. (Thanks Stitchers!)

Today another Yoga session starts, and I have a riding lesson -- so there are some activity points. But sheesh - I have gained weight this week and it is totally demoralizing. But, today is another day, and I will stay within my 29 points today. That is my pledge. Just for today. I can do that.

Kip seems to get better every ride, with no help from me. This guy is so smart, it is scary.

Our lessons have been gymnastics for the last month or so -- with winter setting in, keeping rides interesting is hard. Our lesson last night was extra fun. We have been working on transitions in between jumps. So we started with 18" cavaletti 3 canter strides apart. The exercise is come in (straight) at a trot, land, transition to a walk, and then hop out. Then Canter in, trot transition, hop out; third, canter the whole thing. The key to this exercise is for me to SIT UP for heaven's sake. It's eighteen inches after all, no need for a crest release.

Add to that a bounce. So, enter canter, cavaletti, three strides, cavaletti, land on left lead, sharp left, 2' bounce. (that is an in-and-out with no stride in between) . That was cake, Kip is super catty and snapped his feet up nice and tight through the bounce. Add to that - land on right lead, right turn, down the long side (Keep that canter forward and bouncy) sharp right to cross-bar on the diagonal, land in left lead, down the long side, left turn over another cross bar.

That is a lot of thinking. One of the challenges of a smart horse is they have opinions about what they want to jump and in what order. Kip "locks on" to any jump we have even the barest line to, and I have a hard time convincing him that that is not, in fact, our jump. So I need to get a lot more precise in seeing the line. Something I have not been really great at in the past. Part of this is sitting up, and going deep into the corners. Since most of my past experience is with Jumpers, I am used to cutting those corners, and jumping out of a bending line, taking the fence where ever will get me closer to my next fence. Two problems with that are, Kip is green and still figuring out where his feet go, so he needs to come in nice and straight; and I am not riding Jumpers, and that is not how you ride Stadium. Old habits, and all that.

This week's lesson: SIT UP. Put on your leg, and support that canter.

Our first dressage show

This weekend was rather eventful.

Kip and I went to our first horseshow. It was at Donida and was a Dressage Schooling show.

Heidi and I are both Anxious Annies, so we left the barn at 9 am for the 30 minute drive to Donida. My first ride was not until 12:22. We really wanted to get there with pleanty of time, I guess. We found our stalls, and unloaded the horses and our stuff.

We got our numbers, I was 94, and Heidi 66. We got the lay of the land, brushed our horses, hung out a bit and before you knew it, it was time for me to tack up for warmup. This took longer than I wanted it to, but I was the first ride after lunch, so I could warmup in the ring we were taking our test in. Kip was great, very interested and looking around, but never feeing that "OMG I am going to EXPLODE" thing that Imax did. All of the time. Kip was distracted but I could not have asked for better behavior. He was a doll.

Anyway, the bell rang and my first ride was on. Kip was above the bit the whole time, and on the forehand, but he did great. Some comments from movements in our first test:

The good:

Nicely forward

fairly straight

square halt

The not as good:

looses contact, out of balance

fall into trot

could use more prep into transisitons

looses rythm

Then in further remarks:

Left lead canter looses rythm.

Elegant pair, Work to develop constant rounder connection to the bridle and better preparation into and out of canter, especially transition to trot.

That is exactly the comments I would make as the rider. I think the judge nailed our ride exactly.

Second ride was 20 minutes later. It was much better, except I did not prepare him sufficiently for the left canter, knew I was not preparing correctly, psyched myself out, and sure enough, cross-fired and did not get the canter in the corner.

The video

Some remarks

The good:

Active haunches and swing

balanced trot, fairly active and connected

smooth active medium walk

The bad:

hollow unbalanced on left canter

Needs better prep

almost no stretch shown in free walk (that one hurts - Kip has a great free walk at home!)

Final comments:

Lots of potential, can do more to engage from hind legs so that back comes up more and horse reaches more to bridle.

Again, totally fair. The judge was right on in all her comments to me.

So, Victory! The first show down, and Kip proved himself to be steady, sane and perfect. We cam in 6th and 7th in our class of eleven. Not too shabby.

This week has been so long, how is it there is still one day to go?

I was so excited to go to dinner and then on the artwalk with Scott last night that yesterday totally felt like Friday.

But alas, it was not and I still have an entire day to get through before the show tomorrow. I am very excited and not nervous at all, at least yet. I figure there is nothing to get nervous about as there is nothing at stake. Exactly what a schooling show is supposed to be.

I have done exactly zero to prepare for this. I still have to clean my saddle, bridle and boots, launder the breeches and jacket I am going to wear, pack my show kit, go shopping for food (no concession stand at this show -- which is fine because all they sell is crap anyway). Not to mention Kip will be a dirtball with his shaggy coat and love of rolling on to his back and grinding the dirt in from his poll to his dock. Oh, andt he also has rain scald. I have laundered my saddle pad, so that is something.

Oh well, what ever I get done will be done. I am just really looking forward to the ride. Fun!!

First Show - preparation.

Another excellent lesson last night. We primarily worked on transitions with poles and fences. Trot pole, halt. Trot 2-3 steps, jump. We are learning ride to the base, pat the ground, rock back, snappy little jump. Kip of course is getting is quickly. We also rode our dressage test.

Kip and I are going to our first show on Saturday, the Dressage Schooling show at Donida. We are going to be doing Training Level 1 - twice. So my ride times are 12:22 and 12:46. My number is 94. Numerologically speaking, that is "4" which is a practical and organized number. I am good with that. (For an atheist, I am so superstitious. Embarrassing.)

Our goal at this show is just to have fun. Kip is going to be very distracted, and i am sure the judge's stand is going to be very scary. But I am just going to ride, what ever horse I have and have a good time.

Since our ride times are late, I am hoping we can get there with plenty of time to settle in, and have a good look around before warming up and riding. Heidi, who is going with me rides at 1:52 and 2:56, so we won't be leaving until after her scores are posted and tests released, so I am thinking around 4:00 probably.

Training Level 1 test:

Enter at A brisk trot
halt at X, salute
Track Right at C
At E circle
between K and A, Right Canter
Circle at B
Between X and B, Trot
at C, Medium walk
HXF free walk
at F medium walk
Trot at A
at E Circle
between H and C Canter left lead
at B circle
Between X and B, trot
At A turn down the centerline
at X halt, salute.

Halloween Jumper Group

Wow. That was so much fun, I just want to go back and do it all over again.

Kip and I attended the first Jump Group this fall, our first ever. Kip was just amazing.

I was prepared for him to be more focused on the other horses in the arena, and generally mischievous to begin with -- but right away, he settled in to work. He listened to me very well the entire day.

There were horse and rider combinations, all in the indoor - so it was crowded. The highlight of the whole thing to me was we jumped a course of eleven jumps. And he did it willingly and with very little "green horse looky-loo-ism" (there's a term for 'ya) . There were many kinds of jumps he'd never seen before, and sometimes on the first pass, he'd be crooked, but he learned so fast that usually the second time around, he was jumping it like an old pro. Many people commented on how great he is doing, and how cute he is. He is really cute.

As a bonus, Heidi asked me to go to a dressage schooling show with her next saturday. We are so ready. I am once again expecing him to shy at everything. Then if he doesn't I will be pleasantly surprised.

Wednesday was a rough lesson.

First, I had not ridden in a week, due to crush. Kip was totally scattered, blasting through my leg, trotting like a sewing machine, rooting, running me into walls and generally doing his best to ignore me. I admit I did let myself get frustrated. It did not help that Anne was having a frustrating day too, and really laid in to me about Smartpaks. It is a long and boring story, not worth going in to here, except to say that she harangued a little too long, well after I got the point -- NO SMARTPAKS. Alright already.

We decided to work in the indoor because Kip was being such a twerp. We had to get him listening. To improve the canter-trot transition, I need to ask on a turn -- a very definite turn, not a drift. He is still rough, but by the end of the evening, improving.

We also had 2 cavaleti 9' apart, at X -- Canter at B, turn at A (Look early!! look at P!) steady the canter, support with the outside leg, bring both hands to the right; canter the cavaletti, opening rein to the right to land on the right lead, turn to M, repeat.

He rushes this exercise so by the time we are over the second cavaleti, he's going Mach 5 into the turn. I need to sit up, NOT lean forward, and let him find his feet. He'll figure out it is easier if he goes more slowly.

Anyway this is the homework for the week.

And Jumper Group is Sunday -- So excited! squeek!

Post Crush weekend weigh-in

This was Crush weekend and I told myself I could eat what ever I felt like eating. I did not want to make this about any thing other than enjoying this experience.

Thing was, that I did not want very much. My first meal on the road with the "new rules" in effect, I ate an entire garden burger. It was really mediocre at best, but I scarfed it down anyway. At least I ordered the side salad with it, and ate all of that too. I also had 10 sweet potato fries from Scott's plate. I was miserable for the rest of the day afterwards. I think I learned my lesson.

At the Hightowers, I still had plenty of cheese and potatoes and gnocci and cookies and, well WINE (so good), but did not over-eat again.

We worked really hard this weekend, processing a record amount of tonnage (I can't remember the actual amount, of course). So I was very active from 10 am until 9:00pm. That burned some calories, lemmie tell you. I also tore the crap out of my fingers - that has never happened before, and is no fun. Next year I will have to take precautions.

On the drive home we took HWY 410, and it snowed. It was very pretty, and a fun adventure. We had to put the chains on for about ten miles, but that went pretty easily and we made it just fine.

So the upshot of all of this is, I gained .4 pounds. My total so far is 14.4 pounds.

New rooster

100_3993
Originally uploaded by yvettef.

Scott and I left to catch the new light rail train to the airport at 4:30am on Monday. The train took us right to the parking garage at Seatac, and we went to our gate. We had a little confusion with getting boarding passes, because for some reason if you are traveling to the Carribean

Scott and i went to Belize for christmas and new year's - we had a fantasic time and are very tan.

We took the train in to SeaTac airport , and it worked like a charm, getting us there with just the right amout to time to check in & go through TSA. I totally recommend it when you go to the airport., works like a charm.

We arrived in Belize City and took a prop plane down to Placencia. Placencia is a 13 mile long peninsula, with a mangrove lagoon on one side and the best beach in Belize on the other. White sands and sloping shore, with not too much turtle grass.

We went on some tours, to Cockscomb National Park (Jaguar preserve) where we had a jungle walk with a wonderful Mayan man named Bascillo, who showed us what we could eat ( including termites - tastes like carrots!) drink, and use medicinally in the jungle. Fascinating. Then we floated on tubes down the river back through the jungle.

We also visited Xunantunich, Mayan ruins that you reach by a hand-cranked ferry. Besides the ruins we saw an actual boa constrictor slithering through the jungle, that then slithered up a tree when it got tired of us staring at it. We saw a spider monkey and howler monkeys, too. The ruins were stunning, see my flicker site for more photos than you will ever want to see.

We went snorkeling to the outer Cayes twice, to the Silk Cayes and one inner Caye I am forgetting the name of. It was amazing - we saw tons of blue tang, yellow tang, butterfly fish, huge schools of parrot fish,damsel fish etc, etc-- most exciting was the nurse shark, the eagle rays, sting rays bat rays, trunk fish, grey angel fish , stoplight parrot fish...obviously I could go on and on. The corals we beautiful too.

Weather for the first week was mostly sunny, and the second week was pretty rainy. We made the most of it though, and the second the sun came out, we were back on the beach. Scott didn't wait for the sun, and spent time swimming and snorkeling even in the rain.

This has been a very dry description of a fantastic and exciting trip. See my flickr site for more photos than you can shake a stick at. I will be organizing them later, right now they are just kind of there in a pile.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/yvettef/sets/72157623021996133/

Cajun got shod last Monday, and the shoes have made a big difference. I took him for a Lake Youngs trail ride on Sunday, and the big long rocky hill was not a problem. The main problem was we had been turning around before it in the past, because I did not want to risk his feet. So now when I asked him to go past the point where we turned around previously (twice) he had a little fit. They get habituated so quickly!

Cantering is still quite the effort for both of us, but now I think he is starting to enjoy it. I usually ask him to canter both ways, twice. This last time, when we went back to trotting exercises, he was much more eager to go forward, which is exactly what canter is supposed to do.

I still only do 45 minute sessions with him in the arena, his little brain can't take any more schoolin' than that. but our trail rides are usually for 2 hours, and the conditioning is starting to show.

Offically BIG

I brought a tape measure to the barn, so I will know what size of huge to buy for my new pony. Here are Cajun's official measurements:

• 68" or exactly 17 hands
• 1330 pounds
• foot 6" across (4 shoe in front, 3 hind)
  
• front cannon bone 9.25"
• hind cannon 10.5"

Yep. Big.

Saturday and Sunday

On Saturday I set up three trot poles and one super tiny cross rail - it was basically a "V" not an "X" . But it gave me a good idea about how Cajun will act trotting through standards.

We started out walking long and low - I say that but it is still mostly theory rather than actually being long and low. I can convince him to drop his head and lower his head and neck for a couple of steps. But that is a huge improvement over... not lowering his head and neck at all. Any way about 10 minutes walking. I do not ask for a forward walk, I just don't let him poke along like he'd rather.

Did trot / walk transitions, and regulated his trot for about 15 or 20 min. Trotted the poles probably 8 or ten times, then reversed and did the same. Did some circle work. coming along. Then at the end, I popped him over the cross rail. He did give it a look and wobble a bit on the approch, so he could trianulate on it, and then just trotted right over. Turned him around and hopped over the other way. I call that a good days work.

Sunday we went for a walk on the Lake Young's trail, because not every step needs to be shaped and controlled. We mostly just had a stroll, with some trots. He gets very forward on the trail, and just wants to pound off with his nose in the air, but is learning that even on the trail, the walk/trot transition lessons still apply.

I hosed him off completely, he was pretty dusty. He really likes playing with the hose. we had a nice hand graze, and lots of pats and treats.

Friday ride

I did not ride Thursday night because I came home with a pounding

headache. I went to bed at 4:30, and slept till 6:00 this morning! I didn't even wake up at 4:00am like I do nearly every day, to try desperately to get back to sleep before the alarm goes off at 4:45.

He is doing GREAT. I am a better rider than when I got Imax, thanks to Imax. I am making sure my cues are very clear on Cajun to make sure I don't get the same confusion I got in Imax when I later tried to teach him Training level dressage passages like shoulder in and haunches in, turn on the haunches, etc. --

He is totally getting that my leg steers his back legs, and my hands steer his front legs. I set 4 poles up in a circle - poles at cardinal points (N, S, E & W) First, I just trotted him over the poles, he went right over, no problems. No hitting the poles at all, he picks his feet up nicely - as I give him a little leg over the pole. Then I got him bending around my inside leg a bit, going around the outside of the poles. Using my outside leg, I pushed him into the circle, using the striping on the poles to line him up to keep the circle as round as possible. He still really does not get straightness yet. But so what? I used my "spiral seat" (outside leg pushing him into the spiral, inside leg on the girth to bend around and encourage forwardness) and the stripes on the poles to trot a spiral - in and out. This is actually pretty advanced stuff for him at this stage. He was pretty darn good, though.

When I ride outside he is easily distracted but that is totally natural, a young horse thing. I have to ride every stride more than inside , I can coast a bit.

He is a dream on the ground, such a joy to be around. One of the guys who works at the barn actually stopped and wanted to talk to me about Cajun - that never happens! Men just love him, they get little stars in their eyes when they look at him. The jousters still have to comment every time.

I have decided he needs shoes, so he will be getting them on a week from monday, the first time my farrier can fit me in. I don't want to worry about it any more, and he wanted to walk on the grass the other day instead of on the gravel. I don't know if it was just that one time or what, but I am tired of worrying about every little hitch in his step, and everytime he does not step out when I ask. it will be a bit more than for Imax .... are you ready for this? $140!!!!!!!!! AAckk!

First lesson with Melody

First of all, I won't be updating much for the next seven to ten business days, because my computer is going into the shop. It may or may not have to do with a wine-related incident, I am not saying. Thankfully, when I bought it, I thought "Someday I am going to pour a half a glass of gewurztraminer into this thing. Better get the "I am a lush" warranty." So it is covered, but I have to send it away.

Today was my first lesson with Melody. We took a look at my saddle, and she said it is ok for now, but I need a new one. I was starting to have my suspicions. The throat of it is wide enough, but the base needs to be wider. So I am in the market for a saddle. She wants me to buy her Passat of course. She has a seriously over inflated idea of my bank account. Hank, my Vet also mentioned he has some saddles for sale, so I will call him. And Kerry. Last I heard she was selling some saddles. too.

We started at the walk, asking him to stretch long and low. Still not fully understanding that, but it will come. At the walk, get a good forward walk, and leave him in it, moving my arms with his mouth. When he slows, tap with the stick. Mel wants me to start riding in the spurs trading off and on with the whip, so he will always pay attention, and not deaden to the aid. Soon, I won't need either. He is getting "leg means forward" but I think he forgets - his attention wanders, and he slows down. Must get the walk long and stretchy. When trotting, take up a little contact, keep the poll flexed and to the inside. Don't let him lean - bump and release, he must carry himself. The bit is ok for now, look for a Herm Springer. Do this correctly now, and I won't need to correct it later. Trot must stay active, stay in contact. From an active trot ask for canter with inside leg supporting behind the girth, outside leg back. Use both strongly till he understands the canter aid. Only ask on a bending line - beginning of the turn, or coming out of the turn ( or on a circle) never just after A or C. Ask at F, K H or M.

No nagging, ask then insist. Get it every time. Keep the aids light and he will be light. Canter at every ride. Use outdoor arena when possible. Keep sessions at 45 min for now.

July 23-26

Cajun is still settling in, and doing great. Thursday we rode in the indoor arena, and there were 3 other horses working in there at the time. He was very interested in them, but I got a little work out of him.

Friday there were way too many people in the indoor arena, the outdoor is very dusty, but I didn't care, we rode out side. He gets very lookie - loo at the jousting equipment, but I was able to get him to trot by it normally at least once! We also cantered for the first time. Not pretty, but we did it! I started really asking him to go on the bit. When we were resting between trot sets, I rode on light contact.

Saturday I was supposed to have a sewing lesson at 11:30 ( it got canceled, 10 minutes before it was supposed to start. Long story, but never go to Stitches on Capitol Hill. They suck.) Anyway because of the sewing lesson I went to the barn extra early. (Left home at 7:00, groomed at 7:30, rode from 8 - 9, untacked till 9:30, drove to be home by 10, got ready by 11, on cap hill by 11:30....See how close I had to schedule it to get to the canceled class? )

Anyway. Cajun did not like this "work before breakfast" thing at all, so had little bratty fits while I was tacking him up. But his fits are really no big deal, and who could blame him. What was great was to have the freshly groomed and watered indoor arena to ourselves.

I started with a warm up walk, then gradually would take up contact till we were going on the bit. Still learning forward, but really catching on. when the walk was active and flexing at the poll I would ask for a trot. We did walk / trot transitions to get him in front of the leg. Very good. resting walk. Then active trot, turn down the quarter line, and leg yield to the wall, practicing straightness. I asked for a couple of steps of shoulder-in, and got it, going both directions. Working on circles and not diving into the corner where the gate is. Circles still very rough. Still not getting the concept of staying on the wall, he wants to dive into the middle of the arena. I think he thinks that means he is done. Working at staying round especially in transitions. not always successful.

I hosed him down and let him have breakfast. He was grateful. Turned him out in the field with the tree. His favorite.

Today I rode early again, but without the pressure of having to be somewhere else. I let him finish breakfast first, which I think he appreciated. I tried just tying him by his chin today instead of cross ties. didn't make much difference. We went for a trail ride on the Lake Youngs Trail. We walked down the road, and instead of taking the trail we went on before, I took him along Petrovitsky , past The Parks on 188 and down the big hill. Going out I rode on light contact, he was moving forward nicely, very interested in his surroundings. got a little strong in the trot once and gave a little bolt, came back easily. Spooked once at a sign on a chain link fence. This was early in the ride. He was bold and had a good swinging stride. I kept him in a walk mostly, didn't have to dog him much to keep the pace. Is going pretty good barefoot - the trail is grass/gravel/dirt, with some of the gravel pointy. He hitches up occasionally, but no more than a shod horse. about an hour in to the ride, I let two little girls pet him, he was being very calm and steady, and their parents said it was ok, so they were my children guinea pigs. He did very good of course, and they were thrilled. We did some trotting in two-point, he had a great forward, swinging trot. I had to ask him back to a walk, he was ready to go. On the way back home, he of course was very forward, and i took advantage of that to get him to go on the bit, and start to learn to carry himself, and not lean on me. He leans badly, and I have to bump him to get him to stop leaning. Broke this up with long walks on light contact, and some on the buckle. Did some leg yielding, did great. As we came home he got a little strong, but I turned him around and made him work a bit going away from home, and I think he got the message, because he walked the rest of the way like a gentleman mostly.

I hosed him off gave him carrots and turned him out. He sometimes tries to use me as a scratching post when I take his bridle off, but did not do that today, I think he is remembering I will give him a good scratch, if he is good.

All in all, I could not ask for better. He is progressing beautifully, and taking what ever I throw at him. Very inquisitive, bold and trusting. Making fans where ever we go. Good Boy!

Back to work

So today was our first day of real work.

We rode in the indoor arena for the first time. I led Cajun around to let him look at everything, especially the mirrors.

We began the day with a good active walk, and learning straightness. This will be a big lesson, he is pretty wiggley, but he'll get the hang of it. I began asking him to walk on the bit, and still keep an active walk. He did ok, just fine. He is so willing and interested in pleasing. But he did spend most of the lesson with his nose out and back hollow, but showed many instances of relaxing at the poll and bringing his back up. This will happen in time.

We did three trot sets both ways, five minutes a piece with three to five minute active walk breaks between. Sometimes the "active" part of the walk was lacking, it was starting to get hot, even at 10 am. We practiced leg yields, learning that yes, I do mean it every time, even if you just did it a second ago. We also practiced bending and straightening with the hourglass pattern - imagine trotting an hourglass shape in an arena, with the horse's body following the curves, then straightening at the top, bending to trace the side, bend in the middle, then straighten along the diagonal, bend to trace the bottom, etc. We did that three full circuits.

He's coming along fine. I wanted to wait to have a formal lesson with Melody, but I think we are both ready for her to have a look. She'll have lots of great advice. I will call her tonight.

I hosed him down and turned him out. he likes it.

Hittin' the trail

I couldn't have asked for Cajun to be better on the trail ride today. I decided to see how he would be by himself on the trail. We tacked up, and he gets pretty animated when I tack him up. I have been packing his fly strike sores with an antiseptic before applying fly wipe - he still does not like it, but I think if I am careful not to get any fly stuff in any open sores, eventually he will be ok about the fly spray. I walked him around once inside the indoor arena, the first time he'd been in there. He was pretty interested in the mirrors.

I got on and we set out. The jousters were practicing in the outdoor arena, so we stood there and watched them for a while.

Cajun was pretty good on the road, he would walk sideways and shy at some stuff, but no big deal. Except the goats. They were scary. He had to stop and give them a good snort.

The trail is very wide and clear, and in long, straight stretches that take 90 degree turns occasionally. He has a great, brisk walk - head up, ears forward, interested in everything, but always going forward, At the beginning of the ride, I was just letting him have a good look around and keep a nice, forward walk. Seriously, so far I have had no problem with him being lazy at all. He was eager, even wanting to trot. I didn't let him at first though. I wanted a good long, low stretchy walk - he is learning to stretch his neck down when I ask. He will have an excellent top line in no time.

He was very eager to catch up to who ever was in front of us on the trail--people walking, running, pushing strollers, walking the dog, bikers - then as soon as we passed them, he wanted to catch up to the next people. There were no other horses riding on the trail, but there are plenty of horses in pastures along there, and he was very interested in them, but never pulled toward them or got silly or strong around them. I kept him in a walk till we turned around.

When I did let him trot, he was ready to go, he wanted to move out. I would let him go fast, then I would ask him to shorten and lengthen as I wanted - he did pretty good. I also started leg-yielding him back and forth across the trail, he did really great. Only a tap now and then behind the leg to reinforce my aids. Still I mostly had him walk. He has a great, ground-covering stride. I don't know if it is just because everything is new and exciting, but this horse likes to go, he's just such a pleasure to ride.

We got back to the road and he was just fine on the way back to the barn, too. -even when some asshole kid HONKED HIS HORN as he drove by. I wanted to kill the little shit, but Cajun did not even care, because he was way too busy looking at the GOATS OMG WHAT ARE THOSE THINGS? But even in full blown high-alert, he is still so manageable and easy. Geeze, what a sweetheart.

We got back to the barn and the Jousters were done, and cooling their horses out. We chatted about him and they asked if he had any brothers or sisters around. They really like him a lot - totally jealous I can tell. He would look handsome in their medieval horse-drag, but Jousting is not on the agenda.

He is a lovely, forward horse. He is smart and sane and willing. I am so lucky! I love him!