Moving Day?

I've been thinking a lot lately about my horses training. I only get to see him one (twice at the most) a week because of where I have him boarded.
Gosh, I love Glenworth and honestly couldn't see myself staying away forever, but I'm really liking the idea of seeing my horse more often and getting some proper training into him.

What prompted me to think like this?
A friend's horse is about to be PTS and, for some reason, this news has really affected me (god knows how SHE'S feeling!?!)
I honestly can't imagine life without Mate. He's my absolute everything!
He's not 'just a horse', he's my best friend and means the world to me -  so I'd love to have Mate closer to home so we can both improve more!

I would plan to see him everyday - after school and on weekends - to at least lunge him (but riding for only twenty minutes at the most per day). I would be keen to get some quality schooling into him so he can stop looking like a mule 100% of the time...
It'd only be for about two months tops. Enough time for him to improve heaps but not long enough for our presence to really be missed (and vice versa).
My focus will be flat-work! No jumping. No 'play' rides, just schooling.
Sounds boring, I know, but I do really enjoy flat-work and am keen to really get into the dressage scene.

The fact that I won't have my instructor handy, will probably be the hardest thing to leave behind.
My instructor has the biggest influence on my riding. I think she's just the greatest!
She's so knowledgeable and has an answer/solution to all of my stupid questions.
It's scary to think that if a problem arises I would be on my own. 

Am I biting off more than I can chew?

But I do really think Mate and I would both benefit from having some time away and concentrating on the important things.

I think 'where' is going to be a challenge. Everything around here is something like 150+$ for full board! But hopefully something perfect will peek it's head out and I'll take that.
Nothing is set in stone, and won't be for the next month or so.
Hopefully everything will work out.

But until any decisions are made, lunging and schooling will be my main focus!

Screw you, safety.

Lately I've been a bit reckless when riding Mate.
The other day, I got myself thinking about what I wanted out of this pony. One of my conclusions was seriously getting into free-riding. So I thought "there's no time like the present, hey?"

 

 

A few posts ago, I mentioned that bareback wasn't allowed at all - who ever was game enough to try was bucked off within seconds... So, with this in mind, I made very "reckless" decisions and tried.
Our first saddleless experience was conducted with three very heavy saddle pads held in place with a surcingle. And he was completely fine with it too! We went on a mini trail ride and were even on gate duty. I was very impressed.

This is when I start to get a bit cocky - on that particular day, the herd was spending the week in a very far away paddock. So I decided to jump on Mate with only one saddle pad this time.
Reckless... but it paid off! He wasn't even fazed. We plodded down the drive, back to the paddock, all happy and sound.

The next time I saw him, I decided to go full bareback.
Not even kidding, ALL my friends gathered, pointing cameras at me... thanks guys.
It took me about twenty minutes for me to mount (trying to find the balls to actually get on)
Mate's reaction?
To my complete surprise.....nothing....
Not even an ear twitch.

 

phone quality /10

 

Whaaaaaaa?
Last time I checked, bareback was illegal!
When I tried last time, down in the valley, I took about ten seconds for Mate to throw me off - I tried my best to hang on but he went full bronco... and won. Little turd.
But this really just shows how much he's changed since being up at agistment and in my care.

So, from there, I started to ask him to slow with my seat and move off my leg ect ect.
Apparently, Mate's super good at all this. Who would've thought?

I tried with the neck rope - while still having the bridle on in case he decided to ignore me and run - but he was brilliant!
Our first free-riding experience was just a stroll down the drive back to the paddock. Brilliant, again!

We've had a couple "play" rides in the arena using only a neck rope since - both ending in succession!
Now, I hope you enjoy an assortment of photos.

 

 

 

 

 

I'm still feeling such wonderful things about this horse - it's such a feeling to mount a horse and have it feel like home. I don't think I've EVER felt this safe on any horse!

A lot of exciting things will be happening within the next few weeks, so stay tuned!