One whole year

Well as of the 19th September, I've officially owned Kel for a whole year. Boy does time go fast. And to mark the occasion we went for a short hack all on our own!

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.