ClickMini
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I have sure had an up and down week. Some stuff real bad, like my big horse Sedona being in the hospital with some unknown problem. Some real good like my son getting out of Iraq. Needless to say I have been on a real rollercoaster.
Anyway, I have had a lesson scheduled with Patty Cloke for a couple weeks, and I decided to take both Esprit and Alladdin this afternoon. Good decision, because I had SUCH a good time!
There were a ton of pre-teen girls over there this weekend. I love that, they are really good kids and they have a lot of fun energy. I had a couple of them help me unload the horses and we took them into the arena and put them into the round pen. Alladdin immediately started showing himself off like you wouldn't believe. I am so excited to get him driving! I am at the stage of round-penning and long-lining him at this point. He is really a good boy and he sure enough does love to show off! All the girls (and Joel, the token boy...one day he will realize how lucky he is to be involved in this sport, right now I think he wishes he had a brother!) were laughing and exclaiming over the boys doing their tricks.
I put Alladdin in the bitting rig, and showed Patty where we were at in the training. He is doing really well, he has a couple of sticky points that we will be working on. He needs to bend to the right more easily, and he is also still resisting the bit a little. She helped me get my equipment set up properly, and so we will work on that over the next week. It is so exciting to see my little boy doing so well! He is a showy fella and should garner a look or two. His new harness and cart will be arriving in the week to come, which will be fun. I am sure he will take right to that like nothing, when the time comes. I believe he truly enjoys the work.
Then it was time for Esprit. I have to say I am absolutely, completely, wonderfully SMITTEN with that horse! He is a total trooper. I have only just started driving him, he has been in the cart with me in it only a few times really. There we were, having gone to a new place, with little girls running everywhere, other horses, even a full-sized horse wandering the scene. He was absolutely perfectly behaved! I mean PERFECT! Not a foot wrong. We worked at both the walk and the trot, and he was so steady. I feel so proud of my boy. It was total fun for me! Patty said she could tell that he trusts me completely and that we are true partners. That is the truth of it, we are real partners. He is amazing. I felt like I was on cloud 9! She again helped with some equipment adjustments and suggestions. Patty is such a good teacher. She explains not only what she wants you to do, but why you should do it. I have really learned a lot from Patty.
After the drive, the girls set up a little course of jumps, and we decided to join in. I was jumping Esprit. He again was quite the good boy! I think I really have an all-around horse in him. They were one horse short for as many girls were there, so I told Mackenzie she could jump Alladdin. She just loves Alladdin and talks about him all the time. She was so excited! They took off for their first round, and Alladdin took a HUGE leap, probably in the 40" range. The next couple were the same. I was doubled over I was laughing so hard. Mackenzie's eyes were as big as saucers! All I could think was this is what miniature horses are all about, fun and laughter and camaraderie.
What a joyful way to spend the afternoon. I wish I had some video of Esprit. I think I will bring my camera next week. We are sure going to have fun at the shows in 2009.
Anyway, I have had a lesson scheduled with Patty Cloke for a couple weeks, and I decided to take both Esprit and Alladdin this afternoon. Good decision, because I had SUCH a good time!
There were a ton of pre-teen girls over there this weekend. I love that, they are really good kids and they have a lot of fun energy. I had a couple of them help me unload the horses and we took them into the arena and put them into the round pen. Alladdin immediately started showing himself off like you wouldn't believe. I am so excited to get him driving! I am at the stage of round-penning and long-lining him at this point. He is really a good boy and he sure enough does love to show off! All the girls (and Joel, the token boy...one day he will realize how lucky he is to be involved in this sport, right now I think he wishes he had a brother!) were laughing and exclaiming over the boys doing their tricks.
I put Alladdin in the bitting rig, and showed Patty where we were at in the training. He is doing really well, he has a couple of sticky points that we will be working on. He needs to bend to the right more easily, and he is also still resisting the bit a little. She helped me get my equipment set up properly, and so we will work on that over the next week. It is so exciting to see my little boy doing so well! He is a showy fella and should garner a look or two. His new harness and cart will be arriving in the week to come, which will be fun. I am sure he will take right to that like nothing, when the time comes. I believe he truly enjoys the work.
Then it was time for Esprit. I have to say I am absolutely, completely, wonderfully SMITTEN with that horse! He is a total trooper. I have only just started driving him, he has been in the cart with me in it only a few times really. There we were, having gone to a new place, with little girls running everywhere, other horses, even a full-sized horse wandering the scene. He was absolutely perfectly behaved! I mean PERFECT! Not a foot wrong. We worked at both the walk and the trot, and he was so steady. I feel so proud of my boy. It was total fun for me! Patty said she could tell that he trusts me completely and that we are true partners. That is the truth of it, we are real partners. He is amazing. I felt like I was on cloud 9! She again helped with some equipment adjustments and suggestions. Patty is such a good teacher. She explains not only what she wants you to do, but why you should do it. I have really learned a lot from Patty.
After the drive, the girls set up a little course of jumps, and we decided to join in. I was jumping Esprit. He again was quite the good boy! I think I really have an all-around horse in him. They were one horse short for as many girls were there, so I told Mackenzie she could jump Alladdin. She just loves Alladdin and talks about him all the time. She was so excited! They took off for their first round, and Alladdin took a HUGE leap, probably in the 40" range. The next couple were the same. I was doubled over I was laughing so hard. Mackenzie's eyes were as big as saucers! All I could think was this is what miniature horses are all about, fun and laughter and camaraderie.
What a joyful way to spend the afternoon. I wish I had some video of Esprit. I think I will bring my camera next week. We are sure going to have fun at the shows in 2009.
