Day 22--Cash takes a field trip

This week was a study in typical Colorado weather--a blizzard on Tuesday, lot of mud through Friday, hurricane-like winds on Saturday, and a great ending of calm 60 degree sunshine on Sunday. So our riding was a little hit and miss this week, but we did take our first field trip to Elizabeth's indoor arena in Wellington on Tuesday, amidst the blizzard. Cash did great and stole Elizabeth's and Analia's hearts with his calm sweetness. We rode around a bit, checked out the mirrors, and spent some good time hanging out away from the miserable blowing snow.

Under saddle, Cash is starting to feel a lot more comfortable and confident. He's got a super smooth and slow western pleasure type jog when you let him go slow. And his canter is getting easier and easier. We've started doing some turn on the forehand and haunches. Stopping and turning is getting better and better, and he's starting to stop with a very soft neck.

And today I shot the .22 from his back. He did take one step forward, but it was because he wanted to go say hello to the people on the other side of the fence in front of him. Otherwise, he was a calm statue. And you can see (from the pictures below) that we've been playing around over the obstacles some more. He really has fun with those.

Cash is bowing pretty nicely now (that's the "secret" trick we started working on last week--I guess it doesn't have to be too secret). I still have to help him hold his foot up as he leans back and down to bow, but I think pretty soon he'll have it down from voice command.

I'll hopefully have Cash's teeth floated this upcoming week and then he'll learn to wear a bit. After having his feet finished by Blaine, he seems to be moving a lot more comfortably--before, he had a very clubby right hind foot. It looks better now, even after just one trim.

Weather's supposed to be great next week, so I look forward to lots of wet saddle pads. Pretty soon, we'll need to find some cows to go play around with. Part of the competition in June is a cowhorse phase, and I have a distinct lack of cow experience, so I'll be seeking out someone with cows and cow expertise to get me going.

Hard to believe he was untouched 22 days ago. I've probably said it enough, but Cash is such a sweet, calm horse--he's really something special.