And… Trot!!

November 19th was Manny and I’s two month anniversary. It’s crazy to think that he’s been part of my life, full time, for two months! In some ways, it feels like I’ve owned him for way longer! The amount of stuff that we have figured out in this short of time is amazing! The things we are doing together, right now, I would have thought would have taken months to figure out! He’s amazing!! Even with the many people I bring out to help me, he’s even getting better with them! I had a lesson on November 24 and my mom took me. He came right up to the gate and kept his head down, and mom put his halter on without any issues! No giraffe horse today!

I walked him down to the barn, he always gets distracted going down the hill and at the bottom on the hill. I don’t know what it is!! Once we got to the arena, there was a lesson going on so my mom tied him to the hooks on the wall. Now, Manny is not a fan of being tied against the wall. He freaks out! I don’t like it because I can’t do anything with him when his like that. He moves from side to side, swings his butt out, you name it. I don’t know how to get him used to this. Ideas?

So my mom brushed him for me because he was being a jerk and we started to tack him up. Jill and Cheryl finished their lesson then Jill lunged the Manster! He’s canter is on point! It is so cool to watch him canter! Once he got all his jitters out, it was time to ride!!

We mounted up and away went! We started just walking around the arena! I still forget to keep my left elbow in and my thumb up, but it’s coming! My right arm wasn’t cooperating in the band that holds it in so I pulled it off and went free. Because when my arm is free, it flaps and sticks out. Some horses get a bit quick with my hand being out but Manny just stays at his normal pace! Love him!

We are still working on me using less rein and move body movements to tell Manny where to go and what to do. I still feel like I’m going to fall off, but that’s slowly going away!! Jill showed me that when Manny is stopped, instead of pulling my reins back to tell Manny to back up, if I put my legs back a bit and squeeze, he backs up! So cool!

Then, it happened! I was walking around the arena, and Jill said the magic word; “Trot!” This was our first trot in I don’t know how long! It was only a couple strides but Manny picked it up like nothing! It was awesome!