A good ride

Today was Gunner's turn under saddle.  We started out with a couple of minutes of longing then I tacked him up in my English saddle.  I got on and warmed him up for a few minutes up and down the easement.  He wasn't too excitable today (not that he ever really is).  I trotted him over some ground poles.  They were a little wide set for him but he did fine.  After that we moved over to the acre in front of our house.  We did lots of serpentines around all the trees; figure eights; walking and trotting.  That seemed to help him pick up his inside shoulder to keep himself level anticipating the next turn.  Its too hard to duck a turn when you are making another turn, Gunner!!

I am learning just how sensitive of a horse he is.  Every little shift I make he will adjust himself.  Even so much as if I have more weight on one seat bone he shifts his body.  This is making me very aware of how I am cueing him and how little effort is needed to get him to move.  I remember when I first started him, he had no clue what was going on.  And now at age 6, he has grown into himself, mentally and physically.  I am very proud of him.  I am also beginning to be proud of myself for learning the patience to stick with it and finally realizing that this is a long term, one baby step at a time process.

After all the serpentines, we moved to paddock #1.  This paddock always seems to make him move out a lot more than even the easement.  We got some good ground covering trots in and then he cantered.  Each canter "session" would last about 8 strides, but I can tell we are making progress.  I am in no hurry.  And the more I push him into a certain timeframe, the more frustrated he seems to get and then we both go down hill from there.

Oh and the STOPS on this horse are crazy!!  Make sure you are sitting up straight and just the slightest verbal "whoa" and his butt plants down and he stops in 1 maybe 2 strides!  He is definitely reining/cutting bred!  It will be a fun day when we are doing some long canter strides and then feel his butt sink under me for a stop....If only I had some deep sandy arena to practice!  Maybe paddock #3 will have to do.

The last 5 minutes of our ride were spent with me riding without stirrups at a trot.  When setup correctly, he has a very easy trot to sit.  Just keep remembering to get out of his face....All you have to say is a little "easy" and he slows down.  Such a good boy!

On a different note:
We have a birds nest in our wreath in the front door.  Over the last 4 days, there has been appearing one new tiny little speckled egg each day.  Too cute.  I think they are finches, although this time I haven't seen the parents around nearly as much as the last time some birds built a nest and laid eggs in our wreath.

Day 1

Day 2

Day 3

Day 4