Just walking my pony.

Went back out to the barn to drop stuff off and check on the ponies. We meant to spend more time there but we ran into someone at wal-mart before we went to the barn and talked for awhile ;P Oy vey. Anyways, we still spent a good 45 minutes there just to hang out. Red was in the run-in stall so I went in and took some burs out of his mane. I didn't bother to comb his mane because it still looked okay, but I brushed him out a little so he wasn't filthy. I found a dead squirrel. In. The. Trough. I may or may not have yelled for R to come get it out. Apparently, it drowned. Yuck. Red wasn't fazed by the ordeal and was like, "Woman, why are you hiding behind me?"

I hooked a lead around his neck and tried to get him out to no avail, made him go in a circle or three and he was out. At one point, he went back in so I just walked away and soon my pony was running after me. ;)I slipped the lead around him again and walked him around and played for awhile. Mom managed to get a video of us running with the lead, but not without it ;P Oh well! I'm trying to figure out how to upload the video to youtube from the phone and I'm thinking the only quick way is to be upload it straight to youtube from the phone's internet. :P So, I'll hopefully have it up today because I really, really love the video. :)

Sometimes it's really nice to just get out and work on stuff without riding. Red doesn't lack ground manners. He's possibly the most polite horse I've ever came across. He doesn't get all up in your business, he doesn't just stay away and sulk behind you, either. He's one of those horses that just stands next to you and hangs out. I have NEVER had a problem with nippiness, him being intrusive or running into people. I was discussing him with my mother yesterday after we did our work and she said she was really impressed with him. First of all, mom always said that she doubted Red could do much other than be a typical good trail horse. When I got him, I thought the same. She was always the one to rein me in when I got excited about the possibility of showing him eventually because he had so many problems, not just with skin, but with his 'tude. He was never mean, just sassy and stubborn. Lazy is the perfect word. But yesterday, she said something I never thought I'd hear her say. She said that she actually thinks if I were to ever show, Red could do it. At this point of time, she believes that with some help from a trainer, Red and I could actually go far. We can't afford a trainer right now, but I do have some friends and family members that have a ton of experience and would be just as good, so I'm hoping to get one of them out. Soon. I'm still looking for a cheap English saddle but I have no clue what to look for. At this point, I don't want to pay over $70. That sounds cheap to you fancy English riders but I've seen some good saddles for sale here for cheaper and I'm not going to splurge on a fancy one until I know I'm going to enjoy it.I could sit in it once and Red and I could both hate it. Here's the thing, I don't know what size to get, what type to look for, etc. Any tips??

Anyways, here are the photos from yesterday.
 

I know I'm biased but is he gorgeous or what?

One of the reasons I was so excited about him doing this, other than knowing we've officially formed a special bond and he wants to run around and play with me, is that if I were to ever show him in halter classes, he knows his walk/trot/canter cues for the ground. Canter is still a bit iffy, but we're workin' on it. I mean, we're still working on it undersaddle as well. How good at it can he be within four rides of actually cantering?? :)) Right now, if I were to show, the only problems are,

1. I don't have a trailer.
2. Red's sweet itch still exists, it's better, but it's still there and I don't want to walk into a show ring with a horse that has a bald tail. ;)
3. I am in no way shape or form show ready. I don't know what to do, what type of showing I'd even want to do, what kind of training to do, etc etc. Tips are greatly appreciated ;)
4. Finances. Big big big big
5. Time. Even bigger than the big big big big one.

On a good note, I do have friends with trailers so I'd have a ride somehow.

I'm still researching different types of shows. Here are the ones I'm kinda sorta considering:

1. Ranch Pleasure. This is a biggy. I think we'd both enjoy the more laid-back type of showing and Red knows and enjoys the things he'd have to do.
2. Western Pleasure. This is iffy. I don't know if I even like WP any more because of all of the drugged horses and honestly? Red's headset is not Western Pleasure. ;)
3. Working cow horse. This. Would. Be. Fun. I don't know how in the world I could practice but Red has proved to me that he still has cow sense.
4. Trail Class. Oh, we have that down already. I have very little doubt that with some training, we'd be placing well.
5. Halter. Like I said, Red needs to get his cues down but I think he'd be good.

Right now the ones I'm most interested in is Ranch Pleasure, working cow horse and trail class. I think trail would be a good way to start everything. He's comfortable doing that stuff, and it would get us used to doing stuff in front of people watching to win something instead of just riding around. I think I'd be less bummed out if I didn't win trail than if I didn't at least place in RP. Plus I have all of the needed tack for everything but Western Pleasure and Halter. We shall see.

(Also looking through the photos Red looks filthy but it's because it was nasty and rainy so don't judge us ;)