Here's a run down of a year of breaking my very first project:
- September 19th: Bought Celtic Flame, Appaloosa cross at the age of 4 years 8 months, 15hh, at the bargain price of £400. Training: Almost nil. Friendly and curious but high strung and wearing a halter in the field to catch. Feet had been done in the past but not often.
- September 21st: Training starts. Work on catching.
- September 24th: Catching and leading.
- September 25th: Stabled, groomed and front feet lifted.
- September 28th: Short walk in hand and back feet lifted.
- October 2nd: First lunge session and farrier.
- 8th October: Bareback pad and girth.
- 15th October: Leant over back.
- 24th October: Lunged with full tack, stirrups down.
- 30th October: First long reining session in field.
- 16th November: Long reined around quiet lanes.
- 18th November: Backed.
- 27th November: Ridden on the lunge at a trot.
- 2nd December: Ridden off the lunge up road and back.
- 9th December: First full hack.
- 26th December: First ridden canter.
- 6th January: Lunging over trotting poles.
- 15th March: Lunging over 1ft jumps.
- 8th April: First lesson.
- 20th May: First ridden jump.
- 15th July: First show experience.
- 19th September: First hack alone.
So there you have it. He's come a long way. Here's to another fantastic year of learning.