Holiday time!

I came back home from Philips and brought all my horses home. Enzo spent a week working at home before  being turned away for a holiday. He will have 6months off before I bring him back into work in 2012 and he will then continue his training! I look forward to the new year when he will be old enough to go to shows!

Poles!!!

Today Enzo tackled something new. He's doing so well, I really dont want to do too much more before he has a break, and seeing as he is naturally well balanced once I had finished my main work with him Philip got out a plank and put it on the floor. He told me to trot round over it...well we trotted to it and grinded to a halt and Enzo then refused to walk over it!! So Philip had to lead him over it a few times.

I then managed to walk him over it on my own and eventually we managed a trot! I think by this point he was tired and bored! A couple of times though he did 'pop' over it at least! Wont be long until he jumps his first cross pole - and dont worry there will be a video of that when we do!

What a fantastic day!

My little superstar really is a superstar!!

My little boy!!

Today I got straight on him, Gina lead me to the school and let me off straight away. We did the whole session on our own he was amazing! A tiny bit spooky to start with going large round the school, but he never freaks out just waits for me to pat him and tell him its ok and then off he goes again.



Pretending to be a dressage horsey!

He is so soft in his mouth its lovely, and naturally hes round, he's never going to ride 'inverted' its just brilliant for such a young horse to be showing so much promise even if its only on the flat so far! I mainly worked him on a circle still easier as our steering still isnt great as i found out! He just drifts out through his right shoulder something I really need to work on. Once he realised he shouldnt do it he was fine again. So after our first attempt at cantering yesterday I thought I would give it a go off the lunge today...feeling brave. Not that he gives me a reason not to feel brave other than lack of steering!

Pointing his little toes!

On the right rein he struck off correct lead both times was brilliant! On the left lead he really struggles, again something to work on but he's 3... and not been ridden very long at all and after a few attempts we got it again! so I left it on a really good note as I think he was a little tired too!

He's now going to have a well deserved couple of days off and then probably a week more work and he'll be on holiday for a few months to go away and think about things. Next year will be here before I know it!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s1ZMyHHPUyE - Trotting around

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yekJsAISAKk - Cantering first time

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zZbcRjjDmyc  - Cantering right rein

And we are off!!

Today i didn't even lunge Enzo before I got on, he's been so good I decided to just go for it today! He was no problem as usual!
Well we had our first canter together on the lunge! Both ways he struggled to strike off on the correct lead which is fine at least he was cantering for now! We did the right rein first and once he cantered correctly we changed the rein and went left. Again a couple of times he struck off on the wrong lead, but when he eventually did go on the correct leg he panicked bucked (pathetic attempt I may add) and then grinded to a complete halt! Talk about getting in a muddle. Gave him a pat trotted for a little more and eventually we cracked it and left it on a good note!

He really is being so good about it all, taking it all in his stride, doesnt worry too much and learns very quickly from his mistakes!! My parents are coming over again tomorrow so I will get another video!

Time for the big school!

Progressing quite quickly now! I have been allowed off the lunge in the small barn to practice steering! Ha ha! Thats always interesting! He's been so brave about things, taking it all in his stride its really amazing. We've even trotted on our own now too. Today once again my mum, dad and aunt came down to see how Enzo is getting on this time though we went into the big school for the first time!

Stayed on the lunge today, he was really good considering there were jumps set up in the school which he's never seen before and a mare and foal in the field near by, so plenty to look at! He is very trusting, he really seems to look to me for reassurance and then he just relaxes. Again he went back to scooting his bum underneath him a couple of times, and again he soon chilled out and stopped! He's working so nicely and learning so quickly.

After a bit of lunging each way Philip lead me round the school properly to let him have a good look around and he really wasnt all that bothered! Such a good boy!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wlXo-u9giRk

Day 4 - Trotting!

So since my last post I have ridden him twice, so this is my 4th time on him and we've done a tiny bit of trotting! He still occasionally shoots his bum underneath him where he's panicking a little but he's getting there slowly. Theres no rush! He just keeps getting better and better!
Its briliant to have done so much ground work with him, hes voice trained so well it makes doing this alot easier!
Sorry for the poor quality off my phone but here again is another video!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dc9dN1GyrUg

Day 1

Enzo getting ready for work!

Well I've spent some time lunging him getting prepared for the big day - getting on him for the first time. My mum, dad and aunt came down for a visit to watch this event unfold. I had two helpers - one held him, one held me.

Firstly I layed across him, he didnt move an inch! We did this a couple of times and then we walked him round with me laying over. Still nothing. So I got on properly. Don't think he was too sure about this, you could see him trying to look up at me!

Once again I got off and on again few times to make sure he was ok about it! And then we walked a few steps and he was fine... in fact he was so fine that we managed a whole lap around the little barn before he suddenly spooked himself, tucked his bum under and scooted along! Such a wimp! Ha ha! And it really didnt take long for him to settle again.


And that was that! Could of been a nightmare but he was super!

Heres the videos of him!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DtMGwpU8hCQ

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0kLzfhDP3nI





Enzo just a few days old!