Yesterday, I was up at Tired Dog Ranch. We pulled Vinnie from the pasture with his mother and siblings and put him to work!
First came the saddle. He had never worn one before. All I had was my FreeForm, as I was trail riding Paisano this weekend. I couldn’t really girth it up tight enough, so it slid forward some. All I got out of him was a little half buck. Then he settled down.
Look at that mane...
He showed us his lovely movement.
I also put a snaffle on him, which he didn’t really care much for. He kept getting his tongue over the bit. Since the saddle didn’t really fit, I took it off and did a bit of long lining. Then all tack got stripped off and we just played a bit.
Vin is a huggable pony!
I had a small audience, so just for fun, I hopped up and down next to him. Then I thought, “How will he do with my weight?” He could have cared less! I jump on him, wiggled all around patted him and bounced. Vin hardly moved.
Me saying, See, he could care less! I was pretty surprised at how calm he was about it.
Then we asked Amy Jo if she wanted to hop on him. He was a bit sweaty, so I let her take the first ride. 
Can you see us all grinning? I think that Vinnie is too.
After she was up, Amy Jo said that she had never ridden bareback before. I think that they both did a stellar job!
He knows turning.
I think that he wondered what took us so long.
And after his bath - the grown up boy!
The round pen at TDR now has beautiful bark footing, thanks to Amy Jo moving two dump loads. What a grand place for a first ride. Thank you, Amy Jo! And MANY thanks to Megan for taking tons of great photos with my camera.
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Wow Simrat, he has matured into such a lovely horse. I love that mane
What a sweetheart and he is a credit to your training ability.
Thanks, Kirsty! He certainly has Paisano and Lily’s nice temperaments. He hasn’t had much done with him for the last few months, so this could have been a rude awakening for him. He took it all in stride and was quite willing.
Later, when we rode out for our second ten mile ride, I guess he was watching us. If I had been on Lily, I could have ponied him. I did that when he was a weanling. He’s just so ready to have his own person to take him further next year…
Hey Simrat, isn’t this the same colt you had at the NW Horse Fair and Expo? He looks so great! What a sweet boy.
Yes! That is the two year old I had on the lunge last spring. He’s matured a bit since then and roaned out in his summer coat. I’m curious to see if he darkens up again this winter.