[riccil0ve]

I'm part bragging, part squeeing over how impossibly lucky I got with this little girl. Quick Gracie introduction, she's a 3 year old QH, I've had her since she was 7 months. Started riding her this summer and she is taking things in leaps and bounds, we are progressing so fast!

I've never been on a horse so in tune to me. Shift your weight and she will move over. Touch the reins and she responds like that. Ask her to ease up and slow down and she does instantly. I can check her easier than I can check my mare that has APHA points up the wazoo and years of training.

We rode in the rain and mud today and she just plowed through it all without a second thought. Her gaits are so lovely and smooth, her canter is so uphill and light. She always picks up the correct lead, and she's so balanced! I just... wow. I can't get over how incredible she is.

The plan is to stick with fine-tuning everything, teach her how to neck rein, and all-around put a few miles on her this next month or so and then I'm putting her up this winter and giving her a break. I'll pull her out again next summer when she's 4 and give her a refresher course before working with her on more demanding things that I'm not comfortable doing on a 3 year old.

Quick question before I saunter off to brag/squee to anyone else I can find. As a 4 year old, would it be reasonably safe to assume she is physically ready for such things as learning rollbacks and lead changes? Mentally, she's there now, but I'm too paranoid to push her too hard. I want a sound 25 year old. =P

Anyways, because a post is really never any good without pictures, here's Gracie and I after our marvelous ride this morning.

The pretty little one. [Just a note, she did have her feet done after this picture was taken.]

Stretching. She can darn near reach her tail!

 

[amp23]

Awh she's so cute! It sounds like you two are progressing well, though i cant really answer your question best of luck in continuing her training!

 

[QOS]

She looks just like my filly when I was a teenager. Can't answer the question either but best of luck. She sounds like a jewel.

 

[mls]

Quick question before I saunter off to brag/squee to anyone else I can find. As a 4 year old, would it be reasonably safe to assume she is physically ready for such things as learning rollbacks and lead changes? Mentally, she's there now, but I'm too paranoid to push her too hard. I want a sound 25 year old. =P

Roll backs -yes. Since you start teaching them at a walk, you can start them now.

I assume you mean flying lead changes? Yes, at four you sure can.

 

[Endiku]

It's safe to assume that at four years old she's ready for some more strenuous work. Props to you for putting her body first, and not just doing it all now since she feel so good!

 

[tinyliny]

Very lovely horse. Super elegant and feminine.

 

[riccil0ve]

Thank you, everyone! Gracie sure is something!

mls, I will, naturally, start with simple changes, and progress from there. I don't want to start anything too fancy with her just yet, though, I'd rather wait until next summer. She needs a little more brain before I start getting more complicated than walk, trot, canter, and circle on occasion, lol.

 

[Roperchick]

Wow.... id say for sure...I was already showing my colt as a three yr old. And winning! But then again he was already 15.3 hh and very well built for a three year old. But yeah she looks great!

 

[SorrelHorse]

By four years old? She'll be more than ready for that. I would start asking for all the slow work now. She doesn't have to leap over her hocks or anything, but making her turn into the fence and work isn't out of the question.