[LarkspurCO]

well, happy ending. I sold Charlie today! He's at a great home with a wonderful friend of mine who takes great care of her horses. I'm so happy things worked out the way they did!

Hooray for happy endings!

[SisterToSoreFoot]

Wow, so many cool updates since last time I checked in! My Welsh C/TB is now 5, and this summer he learned to jump as well as begin to travel in a more uphill carriage. His canter, which has been hard for me to learn to ride (it's big and full of action) is now really coming together. I've had to really up my riding game to keep up with his progress.

There are some cool stills at my blog, and a few sort of crappy new vids up, too.

He's getting his winter coat, so he looks a bit scruffy, and the ride was just so so that day (the next day we had a great ride--that's how it always goes!!) But the general development in his canterwork/strength is obvious. I'm finding lots of transitions--in and out of gaits and particularly within the gaits are really helpful right now for working on the connection and helping him control his long, long legs!

[DiamondJubilee]

http://sphotos-g.ak.fbcdn.net/hphoto...32842476_n.jpg
http://sphotos-c.ak.fbcdn.net/hphoto...75613122_n.jpg
http://sphotos-a.ak.fbcdn.net/hphoto...77241961_n.jpg
I just took my young 3 year old to the Royal a few days ago and he behaved like a super star! He went into the ring and did his stuff and we placed 5th in the half welsh under saddle (I missed one lead) and 3rd in the sport pony dressage under saddle class (in a class of 11 really nice ponies). He is a family home bred gelding and I have raised and trained him myself so I'm pretty proud of him
At one point when we were riding around, a 6 in hand hitch of clydes came through our ring. I hopped off but the pony just looked at it and couldnt have cared less...

[TheBrownHorse]

DiamondJubilee: Nice job! and in an indoor, too! My seasoned horse doesn't always react well to riding inside! He looks fancy!

My mare has been progressing well. The more I ride her the less green she feels...ha. Go figure I had a REALLY nice ride on her yesterday, where I was able to ride her forward and into the bridle I'll try to get some pictures, though it's hard because I'm always riding alone.

Charlie's new person LOVES him. They are doing great together. I get to see picture updates on him everyday on FB which is so nice.

[DiamondJubilee]

DiamondJubilee: Nice job! and in an indoor, too! My seasoned horse doesn't always react well to riding inside! He looks fancy!

My mare has been progressing well. The more I ride her the less green she feels...ha. Go figure I had a REALLY nice ride on her yesterday, where I was able to ride her forward and into the bridle I'll try to get some pictures, though it's hard because I'm always riding alone.

Charlie's new person LOVES him. They are doing great together. I get to see picture updates on him everyday on FB which is so nice.

Thanks He's a 14.1h British Riding Pony x and has a great mind and attitude.
I also usually ride alone so I never get any pictures so I know how you feel. In fact he used to freak out any time we were in the ring with another pony as I only ride alone at home. It took me a couple of shows to get him in the ring for one and then not to spook anytime another pony was coming towards us. It was quite funny. He was sure everyone was out to get him!
Its nice that you get to see updates on your horse that was sold

[Perfect Pony]

Wow so many updates and great pictures! It's also so cool to see so many ponies and pony crosses! My pony is so smart and funny and opinionated, she has not made my job easy. But...we are still moving along and making steps in a positive direction.

Tonight we had a real breakthrough. For the first time ever she walked into the ring ready to work and was really a joy to ride. Usually she tests and tests and tests and makes it into an argument. Tonight it felt like a conversation.

It's funny to have something so smart and talented and sound, something you really feel could be a super star...but of course they have to make you work more for it. But it's the journey, not the destination. And I am thankful every day to have her in my life

[DiamondJubilee]

Well said Perfect Pony

[mbm]

little update from my corner of the greenie world

my little guy (4 yo 15h Connemara) is really starting to come along. his days of being too laid back and too lazy are far behind us now - he is a little energizer bunny and is really happily forward - this is a HUGE accomplishment and i cant actually believe that i am writing this

we also have steady and positive progress along the scales - he works mostly in balance and is learning connection/bending /etc.

He is starting to really take a HH and sit - not something i was expecting so I need to be careful not to ask too much and allow him to get too collected at this stage.

He canter is lovely. Even trainer has said he has a nice canter - he is learning to really sit and come up in the withers while cantering.

His trot is still work in progress and will take time to get some real positive progress there in terms of withers being up and reach in the shoulder etc.

one aspect that we still need work on - he is easily distracted - he is very curious and wants to go see anyone who comes into his eyesight.... so we are still working on him staying on whatever line of travel i request and paying attention to me and not teh fun visitors

he went thru a spooky stage where he was scooting and spinning/bucking but that seems to be past now - or at least - i am able to dissallow it from happening.

all in all i think my little pony is turning into a sporty little dude who is going to be FUN to ride! i am super excited to see what the next 6 months/1 year/ etc bring. i am having such a good time with him

i hope to get some pics/vid perhpas in the next month or so.... so far i havent felt we had anything to show but feeling that its almost time to show folks how he is doing

[LadyNeon01]

My first show with Criss was very successful! I'm so proud of how he acted. We went with 2 other horses from the barn and hung out after we were done while the other two competed. He was looking around during warm-up at first, then settled in. He did the same thing when we went into the ring but nothing really major. Intro B was first, and he initially spooked at the judges booth but it was more of a stop and look, do I really want to go past that?! He went past it fine in the other direction. Intro C was next, and no spook at the judges booth! Just some looking around and not really paying attention to me (during both tests). The judge said on both tests that he has lots of potential, and he just needs to learn to balance and stretch into contact. Its about what I expected to see.

Now for the results! Intro B was 61.25% for 2nd place. Intro C was 63.5% for 2nd place. So, so proud of Criss! And onto the pictures!

Warm up
More warm up
First time in the ring!
Down centerline
Trot circle
Canter in Intro C
Pretty head shot
All Done!
Celebrating a good performance

[piccolopony]

Congratulations Ladyneon01! He looks Very relaxed in the pictures I opened and is a very gorgeous boy. Congratulations on a successful show :-) I can't wait to take that step with my greenie!

[LadyNeon01]

Ok, time to resurrect this thread.

I've been working on going long and low with Criss. He's still a bit unsteady in the bit, which is making me consider changing bits (he's in a loose ring french mouth snaffle). Having his teeth floated the week before the show has paid off immensely. No more tilted and flinging head. Our trot-canter transitions have become much more reliable. We're doing exercises like the one-loop serpentine, leg-yielding, shoulder-fore (almost shoulder-in), and transitions within the gaits (lengthen and shorten stride). Its slow but steady progress!

How's everyone else doing?

[luvmydutch]

I'm starting fresh with my new 2008 Lipizzan mare. She's been home from being staretd for 2 months now, but most of december was lost to cold/bad weather. Here's a video of how she was doing before she got some time off for winter:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uiFU7mot62c

She's not perfect, and needs work on tension and rushing in the trot. What little work i was able to do with her during december she definitely started improving with her rushing, and more supple and bending on her circles as a result of relaxation from less rushing.

She's got alot of confidence issues....she was pretty much feral living in the pasture with her pals before i got her. I've been working on building confidence through desensitizing and obstacle work. It's been working incredibly well for her, and she always remembers what she last worked on...even if it was 10 days before.

Looking forward to the spring so i can get going with her regularly!!

[Pocket Pony]

luvmydutch, I was wondering about how your new mare is doing! I didn't watch the whole video, but from what I saw, it looks like she's coming along nicely!

[netg]

My girl has a tentative August date to get started under saddle. I don't know if ultimately I'll be the first one on her or the trainer, as he's working with my beloved butthead right now and teaching me a ton at the same time. I suspect she will mostly be simpler than he is once she's going even while very green!

[luvmydutch]

Thanks Pocketpony!!

Netg and Ladyneon...you can't possibly update after this long without pictures!!

[TropicalStorm]

I haven't posted in a while - its been 3 months since I bought my 2 year and brought him old home He's a Canadian Warmblood by Routinier out of a Lancaster mare

We've been working on ground manners (ie not kicking me when i lift his back legs!) and am slowly introducing the bridle

Here's a few pictures from over Christmas.

http://ic.pics.livejournal.com/skyhu...1_original.jpg
http://ic.pics.livejournal.com/skyhu.../21147_600.jpg

I'm hoping to slowly get him started by June/July

[Superminion]

Can I play? Everybody has some AMAZING greenbeans.

I have a 17.1, 8 y/o DWB, Willow, who I've been getting going with various starts and stops since this summer. We've had our run of bad luck (Lyme, abscess, scaroid removal, broken collarbone) but I've been chipping away at her.

She's pretty hot, and opinionated as I've heard is pretty typical of Michellino babies. She's got May Sherif and Stravinsky in there as well. So she's nice, but crazy. She has shown me bits of brilliance that keep me game to put up with the crazy bits.

I'm hoping to go up tonight to ride, after two weeks off because it's been the holidays and freezing cold or a blizzard. We are learning that my leg means FORWARD without kicking at it, and our last ride left off with her doing just that. There is hope! Now to just maintain the trot. Unbalanced, huge, green bean in a 30x40 arena is a challenge. I've forgotten about the green bean challenges, she's my first in a while.

I wish I could be a lot more consistent, but mommyhood and life in general doesn't listen to that. I feel like we should be MUCH further along than we are, but I'm enjoying the journey. My goal is to eventually do an ET with her, to something a little bit quieter , and she's giving me the skills that I know I'll need to start THAT baby. I'm hoping that we'll at least make it to 4th level before she retires.
Reading about all your other greenbeans antics makes me feel a lot better about mine.

Here's some trot work (please excuse my clothes... lol. It was a lets swing by the barn, just for a second, thing and we all know how THAT works...) :
http://youtu.be/OFqXTjstInw

Her first time ever off the lunge line:
http://youtu.be/szJYv2PHOHI

Some stills:

http://i1255.photobucket.com/albums/...psa979a59f.jpg

http://i1255.photobucket.com/albums/...psb116709b.jpg

http://i1255.photobucket.com/albums/...ps13942093.jpg

http://i1255.photobucket.com/albums/..._1197555_n.jpg

http://i1255.photobucket.com/albums/...hannon/117.jpg

http://i1255.photobucket.com/albums/...non/willow.jpg

Last one... I'm kind of obsessed with her...

http://i1255.photobucket.com/albums/...ingwillow2.jpg

[netg]

Thanks Pocketpony!!

Netg and Ladyneon...you can't possibly update after this long without pictures!!

I don't have many!

Here's a video showing the difference between her and the 11 year old. Hint: She's the one NOT running...

http://www.facebook.com/v/909671269326

This was on Halloween. It was when she started looking more like a horse and less like a baby.
http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphoto...37877657_n.jpg

I think this was November, but maybe December. Facebook is now giving the album creation date instead of photo upload date in info, so I'm not sure... I don't think I posted this one yet.
http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphoto...37829336_n.jpg

This was a few weeks ago. She, um... likes mud. And she also will reach out to touch people any chance she gets - just so people oriented and fun to play with.
http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphoto...14187752_n.jpg

TropicalStorm - I love how your lips, hat and halter/lead match! It's a good color for you.

[RedmondDressage]

I'm going to jump in too! I've got a coming 2 year old all (Commonwealth TRF X Prefix) that I bought in September. I'm not doing a whole lot with him right now but I'm very excited to have an appointment to have him gelded for net Wednesday! He must know because he was taking full advantage of his hormones yesterday to be a giant brat while I was cleaning stalls I'm so glad I can just lock him out and ignore him at times like that!

Once he's gelded and the hormones start settling down I'm going to get more serious about getting him ready for the DSHB classes. I'm planning to take him to at least a couple this summer just to get him exposure to other places. I really can't believe that he will be under saddle in 14 months or so! It keeps reminding me that I need to start stashing some extra dribbles away in the savings account for a lovely saddle for him! LOL

Here he is meeting my PSG horse about a month ago...

http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j1...ps58db00b6.jpg

http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j1...ps6315a715.jpg

[RuBee]

Hello, I'm new here, and finding the forum to be a good resource. Several months ago I purchased a warmblood filly dressage prospect, coming 2 years old. I'll finally meet her in person later this month. She was shown in yearling DSHB and I'd like her to continue in these classes this year (trainer/handler will show her for me). It's been some time since I've owned a horse, but I'm taking lessons when I can, reading about groundwork, etc.

The only exciting thing that's happened since I've owner her is a report that she jumped a 4 1/2 ft. gate. I told her breeder and she was surprised but noted that she does have jumping bloodlines on both sides and said it will be fun to watch her free-jump when she is three.

While I have good people helping me, I know I will have many questions along the way. I enjoy reading the stories above. The filly's breeder suggested a "cowboy camp" type training situation for her, which I believe I would do when she is three. I'd like her to be confident hacking out/doing easy trail riding as well as pursuing dressage training.