We schooled collected trot and collected canter, simple sidle in walk and trot, collected shoulder in, and walk to canter transitions. He was absolutely brilliant and was as sharp to the aids as though he'd been being schooled by a pro these last several weeks rather than standing in a paddock with his buddies-- which is what he's been doing in Michigan until a couple days ago. We schooled in the snaffle today and Karen Brown has an array of bridoon and weymouth bits to try on him once his double bridle arrives in the mail.
Last night while I was hand grazing him the mares were being turned out and proceeded to gallop around. Rijkens offered passage in hand-- and while I know he was just being exuberant (my new pony couldn't possibly be being naughty) it was still pretty cool. And watching him overstride by several large hoofprints even in his lollygag-down-the-barn-aisle walk brings a whole new sense of satisfaction in a horse.
*sigh* The honeymoon begins!
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| Hand grazing this morning just before our first at-home ride. What a dumpling! |
