Trav under saddle last night

[Happy Horselover]

I took this myself with the camera on a tri-pod since I was alone, so don't mind me going off the left side all the time, LOL! He's doing so well, we're working on getting him to go forward into a soft contact and he was doing great. Next step is to take a bit more feel and he'll be on his way!

YouTube- Trav under saddle 7/15/10

[Piper522]

He looks really nice and appears to have a really comfy canter. What a nice green pasture to be able to ride in.

[Happy Horselover]

He looks really nice and appears to have a really comfy canter. What a nice green pasture to be able to ride in.


he has lovely gaits, his trot is really easy too even though it looks active. I work to keep that riding field green, it does photograph well! ;)

[pandorasmom]

He looks really nice and appears to have a really comfy canter. What a nice green pasture to be able to ride in.

I agree!! If there's one thing I could add to or change about Pandora, it would be for her enjoy doing a comfy lope like that. But her idea of it, is you go into a lope, then break right into a gallop and fly across the ground like you're in the Kentucky Derby. All because there's a gazillion horses breezing by her, and she might loose! haha
She's been that way for the 2 1/2 yrs I've had her.

Anyways, He looks like he's a very smooth ride, and very easy going also.

[Happy Horselover]

he is such a good boy - his temperment is NOTHING like any other OTTB I've ridden. He is not "spooky," and if he does spook, he doesn't take off. He has a really good brain, I'm lucky to have found him! We have been working hard to get that canter. I should upload something form when I got him! He'd go super fast with his head up like a llama, it was fun ;)

eta: I have had him 5 months and been riding him 5-6 days a week too, so that helps!

[pandorasmom]

Well I think you've done a superb job with him. I haven't been able to ride Panda that often. She sometimes goes for a few months without riding because of our weather. I get to ride her most in the Spring and Fall. Winter is too cold and Summer is too hot. haha Sometimes she's an absolute dream to ride, and a total angel. But 75% of the time we are in the Derby gates, ready for the buzzer to go off. lol
I own a llama, so I know what you mean about the head going up like a llama. haha

He looks amazing! To be an OTTB, the way he moves and listens is just amazing. ;)

[Happy Horselover]

Thank you Pandora! He is wonderful, and the consistent work for him is a big part of it. It's in the 90s here during the day, but I just wait until 8PM and ride then, and we usually only work about 30-40 mins. I do what I can!

[JackieB]

Looking great. I'm impressed. Smooth and responsive.

What a beautiful riding area.

Thanks for sharing.

[HeavensEast]

He looks great for only being off the track for 5 months. Keep up the good work! :)

[Happy Horselover]

He looks great for only being off the track for 5 months. Keep up the good work! :)


He's been off the track a bit longer than that - he's 8. But, as comes with an OTTB I don't really know much of his history. All I know is that the girl I bought him from had him about a year, didn't do too much with him. She got him from a guy who had him in a field for like 2 years. He was only gelded right before the girl I bought him from got him. He has good bloodlines so I don't know if they were thinking of breeding him, or what. He only raced 4 times, once at 3 and 3 times about a year and a half later. He placed last in all races except the first where he was like 7 out of 10 ;). So basically I don't think he did much for like 3 years after coming off the track. Who knows! Wish he could tell me!