Great! Then not so great.

I rode Hampton in the outdoor sandbox last night and he was really, really good. He can be a little spooky there which cracks me up because when I take him out in the fields he isn't spooky at all. Just in the outdoor ring. Weirdo. But he was good, so this morning I decided to try for round 2. I didn't lunge, just got right on.

Things were going fine until the MORON paint in the pasture (which is right next to the arena) starts tearing around the field at mock 12. Tail flagging, his white fly sheet blowing in the wind. And he didn't stop. Kept right on tearing around the field. His warmblood pasture friend just stood there and stared at him - probably thinking the same thing I was. "Stupid, stupid paint." Hampton was distracted, head in the air, some snorts escaped ... but he stood for me. He listened to me and stood there. Dumb Dumb the Paint wasn't stopped, so I said screw the arena and headed for the Field of Hills - where we would be out of sight of Dumb Dumb.

We mostly walked up and down the hills, a little trotting and one canter up the big hill. At one point, 4 deer crossed right in front of us! Again, Hampton stopped - stared, snorted - and stood quiet for me. When I was sure the deer had gone into the woods, we continued. Again, I was proud that my 3 year old listened to me and stopped. At this point I was like "Damn, someone has it out for me today!". But of course then decided to push the limit and do a trail ride in the woods, too! (Hampton's first time in the woods ... by the way ...)

No one ever trail rides in the woods .. I'm not sure if it's because there is a barn full of chickens or what. So the horse path was ... not really a path anymore. My roomie came with us (on foot) to help clear out some branches and whatnot. My goal was to get to the creek and go creek stomping.

At first things go well. But we had to do a lot of stopping and standing so roomie could clear out a path for us. At one point I tried my own path and got in a fight with a long-hanging branch. I was very, very happy that I wore my helmet. I was basically un-hurt except an annoying scrap on my upper right arm. We finally reached the creek bed - WHICH WAS OUT OF WATER! Ugh. FAIL!

At this point, Hampton's patience was empty. Cue pawing, dancing, head tossing, fighting me, a mini-rear and snorting. I decided to head home before I got tossed. Once we were walking forward again, he was just fine. He was tired of standing around and .... he had to pee.

I worked his little snotty butt back in the arena because I did not want to reward him for going home. And he copped an attitude AGAIN! SO much so that I swatted him a good one on the ass and in return got two HUGE bucks. I lost both stirrups and nearly bit the dust. Thank you pulley rein! I anchored myself and off we went - he adjusted his 'tude pretty quick and we did some cantering and trotting. Wasn't our best, but I'll take it.

When I untacked him and put him back in his stall, he peed like a racehorse. Guess that was part of the problem.

In other news, I finally bought a horse trailer! (pics to come soon). We are trailering out Tuesday for a lesson. I hope we both survive.