Ride Number 3 ...

Quick update, on ride number 3 - which went perfectly.

He's very easy going. Walk, trot, canter no worries.... Needless to say, he was proud of himself.

Definitely a happier pony with a job to do - and I have a feeling he's going to make a wonderful saddle horse.

Very kind, biiiiig expressive movement, and LIVES to be told he's a 'good boy' ....Love this boy!

1st piccy: trotting against the sunset.

2nd piccy: partner was going all "austin powers" with the camera and I happened to really like t his shot, so I tweaked it. hehe.

Ride Number 2 ...

Huey-monster had his 2nd ride today and he was again perfect.

I ponied him down to the arena off Red, which was easy enough aside from his eternal laziness...

He's going beautifully. Stands still to be mounted, nice soft mouth, responsive to what I'm teaching him, and being the typical standy lovvvvves to hear the words "good boy" ....

I actually think having a job again has made him happier - he's been quite smoochy recently, and had me in stitches today ... I took out my digital SLR camera with the intent to get action shots ... but alas, it was playing up.... I was fiddling with it and looking through the lense, next minute everything goes black ..... now, keep in mind I'm still sitting on Red at this point, and holding Huey's leadrope in the other hand.... I look up and Huey's got his lips wrapped around the end of my lense ....

opefully my D-SLR will be working tomorrow and I can get some action shots.

And we're on our way!!

Firstly, let's take a brief walk down Huey's memory lane - so we can see just how far he's come....

• September 08: He arrived a skinny, dead coated, depressed horse
• 2 weeks later, we removed a good 1/2 of his hoof wall, due to seedy toe / wall separation
• LAME. Lame lame lame lame. Periods of soundness. LAME again.....
• November, he was looking fantastic and free-lunging every now and then (when not lame)
• January, no longer lame, and free lunging with a saddle and bridle on.
• Break from January to now......

And now you say???? In April 2009, after close to 7 months.............

............. Huey is sound and FINALLY UNDER SADDLE!

To be honest, I anticipated some fireworks from him, because he's got an attitude to say the least. But he was perfect. I did 2 'test mounts' by putting weight in the saddle, hopping, and standing down again. He turned his head and looked at me as if to say "Well, are you going to get on?!" .... So I did! Swung straight up into the saddle while he stood there like it was nothing.

We did a short session around the roundyard. Walking, trotting, changing directions, steering and brake checks.... He had it all .... With typical Huey attitude, haha, but still well behaved.

When it was done, I walked him back t the paddock. We had a minor incident, when he wanted to go one way (the direction of home) and I wanted him to the other way (the gate so we could GET home) .... but other than that, he was an absolute doll....

Very proud of him! He's going to make a great horse. I didn't get a ridden pic of him, but I did manage to get this one snapped.... Yes, I need a mounting block!!!!