Buddy's Training and Dewey's Trails

Buddy the paint gelding is coming along really nicely.  He has mostly figured out how to balance himself in the corners at the walk and trot.  He sometimes still loses his balance and has to stop and think about it (a good default if you ask me!) but as long as I give him the time he needs to process he will pick up the pace again with no problem.  If I were to apply pressure and really "get after" him to keep going he would stress out and he wouldn't learn the lesson I'm aiming for:  just think about it and try again.  When he does the right thing I cheer for him and praise him and pat him, which is pretty entertaining for everyone else to watch.  Even his canter departures are getting better, and he can hold his canter without losing his balance for twice around the whole arena now.  We're still working on walking and trotting over poles, but it's coming along.  He got his very long toes trimmed today.  You can see in the photo taken a few days ago in which he is trotting towards the camera, that he really stabs his toe into the sand.  Pulling his shoes so he is now barefoot with his toes trimmed to a proper length to ease the breakover will allow him to put less strain on his tendons and ligaments. 

Buddy really is a calm mellow soul.  I've also been riding him bareback and while I'm teaching riding lessons, and he is just happy to be part of things.  An uncomplicated horse if ever I met one.

Dewey is having a good time with his new owner, Rebecca, too.  Today we went for a hack out in the back forty while I rode Beauty the Quarter Horse.  Dewey loves to be out of the arena and looking at different things.  He was pretty clumsy as we started, not paying attention to his feet and stumbling.  We took two laps around the back field and by the end he was walking in a straight line and placing his hooves much more carefully.  It's so good for the youngsters to get out onto uneven terrain and walk up and down hills.  It helps their coordination, their butt muscles, and keeps their brains happy.

After our ride it was warm enough that Rebecca gave Dewey a bath.  I don't know if that horse has ever been that squeaky clean and shiny in his life, but I took a photo to document it.