1 year mark.

Red and I's "anniversary" is coming up quickly..the 4th of September. I feel like we've come a long way since them, but I still had other things I wanted to get down. I wanted, so badly, to be galloping by then, and I'm not even *cantering* much at all, and when we do, I want to stop him from being the victim of his rough gait. Mom, when she first cantered on him, said she doubted he'd be a good cantering horse at all and that I may want to stick with a trot, but I really don't want to have a horse that I just have to stick with one speed on. And I don't think I have one, it just takes practice..

Here are some things I think we've improved drastically on and achieved.

• We've almost mastered the trot.
• He isn't as barn sour, therefor he doesn't try and take off with me when we head home.
• He's better when riding alone.
• He doesn't keep his head SO. STINKING. LOW anymore and has a nice headset when riding.
• His gait has improved just from adding muscle.
• We've added muscle. To both of us.
• We have all like new, amazing tack that fits us both perfectly. last year we had an old as the hills, low saddle-man was it uncomfortable-with too long stirrups, an old pad-which IS a good pad, though-and a rusty headstall. Now we have amazing stuff that fits our needs.
• We've developed such an amazing bond!
• His already great manners with farriers have improved.
• He's less spooky.
•  Our rides always seem to improve or stay the same, they are no longer getting worse and etc.

Here are things I want us to improve before the 2 year mark:

• Master the trot/canter.
• Begin galloping eventually
• Work on lead changes and improve that.
• Have sidepassing down-mostly at least!
• Backing. Nuff said.
• Add some back muscle to Red
• Trot poles!
•  He trips. CONSTANTLY. On the trails. Need to figure out how to fix that soon.
• Find a way to ride more often and have a schedule. I don't have a phone-I feel five when saying that, lol-nor do I have a car, so I rely on other people taking me. Once I get a phone probably sometime in the next few months I can get someone to drop me off and just call whenever I'm done, which means I can work more often!
• Work with a BIT and see how he does without a hack!
• Work on spins.
• Find someone with Ranch Pleasure experience to talk to that can give me some tips! ( I just joined a AQHA group on facebook, helped a lot!)
• Find reining/ranch pleasure/western pleasure shows to attend so I can watch it in person and in action.
• Find something for his skin that doesn't hurt him after two weeks. :P :P

The list is hefty..ugh. I really have a ton of hope for us though. Lol. Red is a good horse, I mean really good. He's solid, dependable, and even though, yes, horses can hurt themselves in five minutes, he's sound. He's the perfect horse for me-despite stubborness. I believe we can get there.