That's it, we're ready ...

[The Moo]

;D ;D ;D
I had been taking Ed for walks with his 'clothes' on and also getting him to stand by the mounting block while I stood above him, one of the girls offered to hold him and it just seemed the right time to get on.



We still haven't done 'proper' starting work, this was a 'you wear a nummah, a girth, a saddle and a rider' sort of thing.

Steering and brakes will be another thing

[greydales]

Aw that's great Jo, well done! Ed doesn't look too fussed, amazing how all these babies are growing up ;D. I've done the same with Cherry, sat on her last summer and did a few walks around the school but she doesn't know what legs mean lol. She's quite good at humping me out of the saddle as well

Haven't done anything further with her yet but there's no rush!

[Debbie]

Bless his heart, he's growing up... awwwhh He doesn't look too fussed about his first 'rider clothes'

[harveydales]

Oh well done Jo! He looks perfectly happy about it all, doesn't he? I think it has to be the best approach, just doing odd bits when the moment seems right and no pressure to do it all in a set amount of time.

Ed really does look grown up now. He's turned ito a lovely. strapping lad!

[cadeby]

Brilliant - well done to both of you
How old is Ed now ?

Helen

[The Moo]

He'll be four at the end of March.

I plan to work on ground work, long reining etc until then as he is still a very young. I want him to mature more before doing any 'work' but he has already decided he wants to be a domestic pet as he loves coming in and hates going back out to the field. He very inconveniently plants his feet in the gateway out of the yard to the field but loves to go out of the other gate down the drive.

[leannwithconnie]

;D he really doesn't look bothered one bit does he?

[DalesLady]

and off you go!

[bevbob]

Oh well done, it must be a great feeling to get onboard for the first time.

[harleydales]

He looks very calm about it all!

[valerie n scout]

oooooo hope your gonna send load of pics when you start propper and all that looks a lovely boy xx

[PonyGirl]

He looks very calm! How wonderful!

[dalesponyrider]

What a lovely achievement for you! He really does look very chilled about the whole thing. Well done!

[Deleted]

well done jo, ed looks really relaxed, long-reining will help with ed's stearing when it come to getting on properly, I broke Akehurst June Rose in at 3, she was so good, dales are so relaxed it just comes natural to them i think, June's nearly 4 and at the mo shes ridden once or twice a week which is enough for her, and shes just learnt how to do little canters with NO bucks!! Hows cilla?? have you ridden her latly?? hows the feet situation?

[The Moo]

Just beginning to ride her again and bring her back into doing stuff, was able to take her up to a friends place on New Years Day and we had a really nice hack up through the forestry commission as my friends horse is just coming back into work as well.
It was really nice to have her out and about again, she is just soooo comfy to ride, the down side to that is that it's a bit like riding a sofa and you end up drifting off, gazing at the countryside and just becoming a passenger. ;D

She now has PLR shoes on (Performance Leverage Reduction), I did try to instill on her the word Performance but she wasn't impressed. This is a link to more info www.tfp.uk.com/lranbs.htm they do cost more to buy than a normal set of steel shoes but because they sit under the foot structure to support it they don't out grow them in the same way as a normal shoe so they stay on longer and in the end don't cost anymore. The remedial farrier said she could go to Natural Balance shoes or normal shoes after the next shoeing. She is un-shod behind.

I really like June, I couldn't believe how she was exactly the same shape as Cilla, a perfect clone without the blaze. Somewhere I have a pic of the day I got on Cilla, I am togged up in hat, back protector etc and she looks as if she is going to sleep.

Now I am back at work I am really fed up as there is no daylight at either end of the day to do anything so none of the ponies are doing much at all and she is so wet and muddy when she comes in I can't even groom her. Roll on the longer days!