Friday update

I was a little pressed for time today, because we were going to visit friends in the evening. Much of my visit was given over to working on ground work, because he was as bad as Wednesday at standing still, and now I didn't have Steve to hold him for me. Ashley (the barn manager) helped a bit, but he's very stubborn about picking up his feet. That definitely goes on the list of things to work with him on. The whole Parelli "tack your loose horse" thing I look forward to working on.

With Ashley's help I got him tacked up and headed for the arena. The games to get on (I did fix my stirrups - the leather is dry and a bit stiff) were much reduced and we were off at a walk in no time. He was good enough to take him to a trot, which he performed enthusiastically.

His withers are very round which means the saddle rotates a bit if my balance is off. At this point, that works for me as an indicator that I'm leaning to one side, so I won't "fix" it with more tack yet. It only seems to be to the right that it happens so I wonder if it is aided by unbalanced musculature in Jester. Something to work on - keeping him even left and right.

In true horsemanship fashion, I was late to the get-together with the Witmers. Got to start wearing a watch on horseback again.

Jester's roommate arrived today; he's a cute Appaloosa pony that Jester loves to boss around. Haven't learned his name yet. He's at the barn for some tune-up training so he may only be here for the month.