Update on the Silly Boy

Well we haven't had any earth shattering moments. That really isn't the norm with a young horse. I think that is why starting a horse isn't for everyone. It isn't like you go out and every day make progress. You don't have the weekly lesson where you get to try out new tricks or things start to click as a rider. 

The reality of a young horse is that they just need you there. They don't need you to have this agenda and plan for what you will do every week. They need someone who will be steady, who will show them the world isn't scary, and to have patience. From the outside he still likes like one wild pony. He likes to carry his head up in the air, rears sometimes if he gets mad, and tries to steal anything and everything within reach of his neck. 

This means victory for us is the fact that we go for walks and he doesn't step on my feet any more. He knows what "Whoa" means so he will stop when I stop on a walk. He understands that as soon as he starts to get in front of me we have to stop and he needs to back up. These days my shoulder isn't quite so sore after a walk but it's getting cold and windy so there are some exciting days. 

When I go in his stall he still wants to be pushy but it takes way less to clue him in to the fact that humans needs some space. You can wave your hands kind of like you are air pushing him back and he will step back. He is also way more aware of me in his stall. I brushed him lose in his stall with thunder, lighting, and hail going on today. He had to keep checking out his door  to make sure the world wasn't ending and was great about walking around me instead of over me. 

He knows when something is scary and I point at it he is supposed to touch it with his nose. If he touches the scary thing he gets a treat. I don't even have the point a the scary thing all the time. I will just start to walk up to it then he walks up snorting and spooking himself until he touches it. Then his cute little baby face looks right at me like "I did good, right? Treat now please." 

And he continues to be a total people horse. He nickers when I get there and nickers as he watches me leave. He comes running to me to the end of his paddock. He is more distracted when people walk by the round pen than when horses walk by. He can seem like he's totally unaware I am in the round pen but if I leave for a second he cries and throws a fit until I get back. 

He's still a goofy silly baby and probably less emotionally mature than other two year olds. However, he is smart as a whip and moving more gorgeous by the day. I couldn't be more happy with where he is at in his training. I didn't want calm ho de dum personality. I don't think that makes the best sport horse long term. I want him to think for himself, to question things, and to be curious. If he needs longer to settle and just be a horse I am more than happy to wait. I feel like if I give him time to grow up I will have a much bigger payoff than if I forced him grow up. I have horses to ride and I have a blast with him just the way he is.