We rode

I brought the boy down today and he was saying GRASS OMG GRASS. I've been limiting his intake lately to prevent colic, but he got quite a bit of extra today while I groomed him. I had thought if he proved calm enough I'd ride, so I had everything out and ready. Once the hard part of getting him clean while he's trying to get as much grass in his mouth as possible was over... I started tacking up. Took a while, and a bit of help from mom to hold the lead while I buckled things and adjusted things. Since the off billet was taken off of my saddle at the stable, I had to use an old one, and it just didn't have holes at the right interval, but we got it figured out. Also, I've got one coming in the mail, brand new, black, decorative stitching... So anyways I finally got up there and he was a little nervous (and I was way nervous.. with mom, dad, my nephew, and my brother all watching and waiting for him to dump me) but he only jigged sideways a couple times and I got him aimed at the corner of the house and around we went to the front yard. There, we walked in figure 8s and circles and I practiced guiding him the whole time by turning to where I wanted to go, but also guiding him with my reins by direct rein and neck rein. He has "whoa" down... sorta. It takes him a moment to realize he needs to stop. And he's still not sure about what that means when I squeeze his sides with my legs, but he sure as hell knows what my "click click" sound I make at him means. I squeeze and if I get no reaction, I click at him and he goes. He has the turns down decent. Just a wee bit rusty on them, but he'll polish up quickly. I'd put up pictures... but the photo uploader is not wanting to work right. Maybe photobucket will work.... Testing... Also... I apologize that all of this text is in one big paragraph. For some stupid reason, it doesn't make it's own boxes, apparently, and I can't remember the proper html for that.

So here's the pictures... you'll have to click on them to see the whole thing. It was the only way I could get them in there. Gah. Stupid computer.