Hey he hasn't forgotten

Hampton has had a couple of weeks off from serious work. But since the weather is suddenly gorgeous again, I decided today, tomorrow and Monday he can do something with his fat, furry butt. Today I merely lunged him with just a saddle on. He's actually starting to go more forward with less "requests" from me. While I don't make him canter but just a few strides, I do ask for canter departs just so that he knows what it is and that cantering is OK. He's sort of snotty about the departs, although I'm sure some of that comes from the fact that he is unbalanced and can't organize his legs.

He's really cute when he does this. I just send him on and the second time I ask, he canters right off. Guess he just has to give me the finger once as a protest. I'm not worried about this at all, as by the time I even attempt to canter him under saddle, he will have learned to canter more appropriately on the lunge and this sort of stuff goes away (we hope). 

He is starting to fall into a nice tempo when trotting. When I first started him out, I basically let him pick his own pace - which was a slow, Western like jog. These days I request that he move forward and soft and it is starting to pay off. his over-reach is starting to develop and there are moments where he really swings. He still looks so gangly and awkward, and his goose-rump butt does not improve the picture, but I think as he matures he will be really nice.

Tomorrow I will ride him. And if steering and stopping goes well in the round pen, perhaps we will venture to the big arena? Depends how brave I am, too. Monday will be another riding day. Then ... more time off. He gets his teeth floated on Thursday (and hopefully his wolf teeth yanked, too). Friday he gets his feet trimmed. What a week for the giant 2-year-old. And my checkbook.