Summer

[Jess]

All I can think to say is - she is a different horse from a month ago. She's like Gunner, she's settled in so much. She's comfortable being handled now, great in crossties unless you leave her by herself, then she gets a little restless, but it's just something to work on. Loves grooming, much much better for being lead, really getting the hang of whoa and backup.

She was dewormed yesterday, took it no problem, just like Gunner did. I'm thinking we're going to see a big difference in her weight gain and muscle tone now that we've dewormed her. Had her out Saturday, put the saddle on her. She was a doll, didn't blink an eye. Led her around in the paddock as well, smacking the saddle seat, wiggling the saddle, jumping up and down, weight in the stirrups, backing up, etc. She was really good, she's a little tiny bit more uptight than Gunner is, and she gets frustrated a little easily, but nothing major, she only really had one "OH MY GOD WHAT DO YOU WANT?!?!" moment and she completely calmed right down right away.

We put the saddle on her again today and took her out. Did all the same stuff as yesterday and she could have cared less. So we brought out the stool, Steph held onto her and I got up on the stool and leaned over her back. Put almost all of my weight on her, bumping my hands against her sides, patting her flanks, all that stuff. I might as well have not even been there, she couldn't have cared less. So I got off right away, and ended there. I was absolutely amazed with her. Her little mareish fits are pretty much gone away to nothing now, I think she's really starting to trust us. She even let me hang the stool off the saddle horn and didn't even bat an eye.

She's some pony, I tell ya.

[stephaniec]

I can't wait to start working this girl under saddle. She's going to be great once she gets a little weight on. She's extremely laid back for a three year old, well, just about three. She loves to be loved.

Wanda has just started some NH with her and she seems to be responding well to it. I can't wait to see what she's going to be like this summer. Might even take her in a class or two at AEC's heritage show

[Jess]

Summer had her first ride this past Friday! Like I said in the first post, we've been doing some work getting her used to the saddle, weight on her back, etc. So Friday, Laura and Krys came up for a visit, and since Krys has taken such a liking to her, she hopped on her. We walked around for about five minutes, had a sidepull on her and she was great. A little wobbly, figuring out how to balance her riders weight, but she was a star, only had one "Oh my god!" moment, which wasn't anything, really, just coming around a corner trying to balance her weight.

Again, if all goes well, riding her again this weekend, and we *may* give lunging another try now that she's really had an attitude adjustment and has settled in.