A Training Ride at McCroskey State Park

It was time to get the younger horse in the trailer by himself, and away from the barn. He has done this kind of thing quite often in the past, but at that time he was nervous and not easy to control. This winter with all the great weather I started to try and get him more confident in himself and me. On our rides out from the barn have made him into a different horse.

Not to long ago he spent most of him time prancing around, head up, pushing hard on the bit and breaking into a fast bone jarring trot if given the slightest opportunity. Now 90% of the time he walks relaxed, head below his withers, and responds to very light direction.

He ground ties fairly well, and I am going to start teaching him to not fear the sound of a gun shoot some time soon. He has done this all before, but with a great amount of fear. This time I am going much slower.

I want him to become a dependable trail horse that I can hunt birds off of.



Here are some pictures from up on the hill, and I have added an old one just so you can see him.

This is looking out over Farmington, and Palouse country beyond to the northwest.



That is Jack's Mountain. We were hunting the right shoulder yesterday.





This is Spud in his summer coat.