One step closer..

Every week shadow is improving tremendously.

Saturdays have turned into quite the busy day at the barn with back to back lessons for Dom and I really enjoy the time to get away from the real world and worry about what makes me happy. 

The last two Saturdays were like, my first real lessons I guess you could say. No lunging and Dom didn't ride first, just me and shadow and Dom on the ground teaching, which I'm really enjoying.

This past weekend he really felt great and he offered so really beautiful canter. Dom took some photos but we didn't get any of him cantering because we weren't ready, lol. Dom said it was a real canter there was no pace to it at all, great! 

He is really improving at the walk, it's almost perfect and he is really getting the hang of the free walking. For the last two weeks I have gone home all smiles. Just the thought of how well he is doing after I though our whole game plan was out the window with how lame he was at the beginning of spring.

The regimen I have him on is working wonders and I didn't even have to put the wedges on him, which makes me even happier. 

I really can't even say how proud I am, he is really coming along better than I could have expected so far. 

Head shot of my handsome by Dom

Never imagined him to look this good 

Top is august of last year and bottom was this past Saturday, major improvements!! 

WW:Birthday Love

Saturdays

I absolutely look forward to lessons every week :)

Shadow has been showing so much improvement, a little more every week.

I have been very sick with shingles (ouch), so I haven't done anything with him because of the amount of pain I am so when Dom came this Saturday I warned her that he might be a little off from being out of work.

To my surprise he was wonderful! The ground was super wet, but he managed. He looks very sound and not stiff at all, he it trotting beautifully on the lunge line, with a small amount of antics on his bad side because he is fighting the pain I suppose.

While Dom was lunging, she took a split second to look at me and ssay something, and Shadow decided in the split second he was going to buck and he pulled the line right out of Dom's hand. He took off running around us like a crazy horse. (i think he was trying to run away from the evil lunge line that was following him.) lol

He was completely sound and looked so beautiful in his natural gait. He had his head up and his tail up and he was moving so freely. I wish i could have gotten some of it on video but i was too busy staring at him. He looked wonderful, although not what we wanted, he warmed himself up. lol

We worked on some side passing on the ground, which he did pretty well and some turning.

He is still struggling a little on his bad stifle, but he is looking so much better, he even offered some beautiful canter while Dom was on him, and he held it for more than 2 strides, if the ground wasn't so wet I'm sure he would have kept going.

I hope to get some photos/videos for you guys next week. He is doing so well. I don't think I am going to have to put the wedges on him after all! I am going to take another month to observe him improvements/ strength and go from there.

This saturday we are going to pull his mane too, that should be fun!

I can't even express how happy I am with his improvements and with the team Shadow, Dom and I have formed together. I have set a time frame of next summer to get him to where he needs to be and out shows at a healthy 17 years old. Lol Dom thinks it is a perfect time frame and I couldn't be more excited.

Nothing but positive vibes :)