1: hi guys, i've got exciting things in store for today! first, i plan on bringing cookie to the SEC to do some poles, and if that goes well, i may pop over a small jump on him! after, my freind (my charector with makeup and different hair edited in to the picture lol) will come over to help me mount may for the first time! 2-7: i brought cookie in from his paddock. he was so sleepy at first lol 8-10: i groomed him 11-13: i put him in a western saddle, as he still isnt used to the lighter english saddles yet. since we won't be doing actual jumping 2day, i figured i'd be fine to ride western. then i gave him leg protectors. 14-15: i pulled on my gloves and helmet. 16: i bridled him. i used an english bridle, since although he'd be more at home with a western one, i would be lost XD 17-19: i brought him outside, checked his cinch, and mounted 20-25; we headed down the trail. cookie seemed to rlly enjoy this. after a few minutes of walking, i moved him into a trot to warm up. i even cantered him a few strides. 26: at SEC, i dismounted and set up some poles 4 us 27-28: i started to trot him over the poles. i kept a loose rein, as the concept of contact is new to him and i didnt want to complicate things for him 29-30: i started to canter him. i actually got some bend in his neck and took some contact. i was kinda hesitant to do canter poles with him, as he can be kind of clumsy with new things, but i decided to go for it 31-32: i let him have his head, and he went over them really well! he sort of jumped over the second one, but that was fine, as he was balanced well 33: (ignore the major overjump, this is sso lol) finally, i brought him to a tiny vertical. his form felt great as we jumped. 34: i'm so proud of this boy! 35-36: i brushed him since he was sweaty, and gave him water. after, i put him out to the paddock 37-38: i brought May in from the paddock and picked her hooves 39: then i brushed her, which she rlly enjoyed! 40-41: i tacked her up 42-43: i got myself rdy and bridled her 44: since this will be may's first time having someone sit on her, i wanted to have someone hold the reins. my friend Michelle (completely random name lol) came to help 45-46*read notes and credits*: as i put my foot in her stirrup, she moved away from the pressure. i took my foot out and practiced slowly putting weight in the stirrup while Michelle held her steady. finally, i lifted my body into the saddle. she tried to go forward, but she stopped when michelle asked her to. May was so calm the whole time! she was definitely very alert, yet she was patient and let me sit on her! after sitting on her for a minute, i dismounted not wanting to overwhelm her 47: after i untacked her and michelle headed home, i rewarded my awesome haflinger with an apple.
*pls note*: i have never trained a young horse, nor actually researched it. ik a lot abt horse stuff but this might not be so accurate. in addition, i didnt want this to be a boring update, so i sped up the training process.
