Before and After

I love before and after posts. I may or may not post a lot of them.

Welp, you are getting another.

First time trotting under saddle. My goodness.

Same horse and rider. I swear.

Spurred on by a current bloghop, and some recent reader comments on how they cannot believe Hampton is a grown up. Don't worry, some days I can't believe it either.

Baby Hamper! (2007)

Now ginormous.

For all intensive purposes, he is a made horse now. No, he isn't some Grand Prix dressage horse, but he is "made" in that he is a solid citizen, pretty much anyone can ride him and not die, he does pretty much whatever you ask (with the exception of clipping his bridlepath ... whatever, horse.) , safe on the ground, has tons of miles, solid at shows, just a general all around good citizen. The dressage is just his "master's degree."

As a 3 year old his signature move was to buck and get squirrely in the neck.

Uhh. ... Still does this as a 9 year old.

Pats after showing Intro level

3rd level. Same show grounds.

Rangey, weak topline, no muscle (but still cute) ... to ...

damn, son.

I think he was just 4 here?

Still my main man!

Don't worry, he comes with his own set of quirks. Some cute, some incredibly annoying. But it has been an absolute pleasure to raise this horse. I wish I could clone him.