That being said, I think we are well on our way to the Olympics. No, sorry, we haven't picked up a canter without trying to throw a buck. Yet. Nope, haven't really gotten used to the bit. Yet. BUT, we have made it to our third ride without a trip! YAY! Marvel has somehow put two and two together to realize he's got four legs and that moving across the ground isn't happening by magic.
The other super exciting thing that is making me beam with pride and shoot for the stars is that he had his first real jump today! We've been walking ground poles, and by walking I mean we walk toward them, we stop in front of them, we sniff them, we determine how high they are, and then still trip over ourselves when stepping over them. I'm serious, there for a little while I was thinking if we just set ground poles around a field he'd never "break out."
I don't know if I finally had enough, got brave, or just realized that hey, I've trained a horse to jump before, he can't stop at ground poles! But finally I pointed him at a cavaletti raised 6 inches off the ground and made him trot. The first 10 tries between yesterday and today were less than noteworthy. Just picked up his feet, tripping several times, but making it over. Then. All of a sudden. Marvel had an epiphany. He went back through all the old Horse Illustrated centerfolds he had stored away in his memory and thought, "You know, I could probably tuck MY legs up under me and look just like Beezie Madden's horse Authentic!" And he did it! Maybe one day we will be jumping high. Like, you know, 2'6", because let's face it. He's got splayed feet. But I'll be happy with whatever he can do.
