Working With The Big Man

Roo has come so far since my last post to the blog. I am riding him regularly now with two separate trainers, one a hunter instructor and one a dressage instructor and both top of the line in what they do.

Both have been on him and both feel he has so much potential, is very versatile and has a great mind.

We travel on the trailer without incident back and forth to two different barns for our lessons. In the winter, my dressage trainer has been coming to ride him and give me lessons at the barn where we board, so we aren't missing a beat in terms of Roo's training.

I happen to really love this first picture of a quiet moment between myself and Roo. He is so appreciative of good care and lots of love, and that is what I try to give him every day.

Both of these pictures were taken in October while still at Stuart's training facility. You can see how nicely Roo is working in the second photo.

He really has never given a moment's problem while mounted, and in fact, learns quite fast and retains what he has learned very well.

My plan for the upcoming show season is to take him to a few shows to experience what it's like to be around alot of people and horses in one setting.

My traveling to the different venues for lessons has made him patient in the crossties and patient with new experiences. The fact that we are now boarding at a farm which has goats, sheep, chickens and rabbits along with horses, has exposed him to a tremendous amount of "live" activity. I find that he only occasionally "looks" at something, and more with inquisitiveness than with an attitude toward spooking in any way. Once or twice in his initial training he might have spooked at a cooler hanging over a saddle rack or the gate, but never for very long, or in any continuous manner.

Here you can see Roo at the my hunter trainer's facility. We are cantering poles. He does this quite nicely and did from the start.

I am still waiting another year before jumping him. He will be 5 in May, and later this year we will begin jumping very small crossrails. But cantering obstacles such as poles is great for his balance and confidence.

He has alot of admirers among my own students and friends. I've only allowed my trainers and a few of my very knowledgeable riders to "test drive" him. But I trust him. He does not have a mean bone in his body.

I know it's been a while since I've updated the blog. I am retiring at the end of this year from my full-time job and will only be teaching part-time at the University, so I hope to be able to pursue more riding time and more blogging time associated with that riding...especially where Roo is concerned.

He continues to be a real joy in my life!