Well I talk and talk and talk about my horses on my other blogs, then I finally get a project. Then I remembered I have a blog built specifically for the project horses! So here is Savio day three:
Normally I am a great procrastinator and put off riding to the weekend if I'm lucky. But I have been consistent with working Savio every day without rain. Day one I rode and I was pleasantly surprised with how much he knew. Gaits are fine, leads went without a hitch, figuring out going in the bridle (thank you draw reins) and yeilding to the leg but not quite advanced enough for the more demanding movements. Day two I was not up for riding, but I have wanted to see if he could jump. I lunged him, which he knew VERY well, listened perfectly. Jumping was a bit of a challenge, I could tell he has never been asked to go over something with such forward impulsion. However, once he figured it out and thought ahead two strides, preparing himself, instead of waiting to the last minute, his form just got fancier and fancier. Little sucker is a hunter!
The next day was too rained out to do anything, but I was happy for the break. I was utilizing the time to organize my tack box and get other such training nicities in order. Our neighbors moved two horses to their place the day after I moved Savio to mine and my little herd has made friends with them. Silvie, the closet jumper and self-appointed queen, got it in her head that she must trot to them this very second. Now Savio and Silvie have been unseperable since his arrival so he went trotting down with her, but for different reasons. He absolutely did not want her socializing with the neighbors when the rest of the herd was in the barn. He directed her away in the classic stallion fashion: lowered his head to nearly the ground and pinned his ears. Oh did I mention he put on a BIG trot as well?! I was like, "wow..." Little sucker is a dressage talent!
Moving onto day three. I wasn't sure what to expect riding wise, but I had this great desire to go out on the trail. Savio was tolerant enough to go riding however much he wanted to stay with the herd. Walking on the street I wanted to give his feet some much due concussion and see if the terpentine is working. What was fun was when we came up to the speed markers. You know the white strips on the ground letting you know a stop is coming up so slow your ass down? Yeah he gave a good look at those but I told him, it's just like jumping the other day. He decided to step over them like cavalettis... SWEET! Walked to the end of the street and trotted back using the speed markers for extra training. A very sure footed little guy and dealt with traffic like a saint though NO ONE went slower than 25mph passing us. I could have thrown a rock at those idiots. But little did I notice little Savio was riding better! He went into the bit easier, longer, happier. His walk felt awesome, trot was a mite big but slowed down lovely. I wasn't into cantering him that day as trot work is the best for building muscle, plus it was more of a mental workout than anything else. He did pavement, he did grass and he did water. He was great.
