Tuesday, July 7, 2009

Saddled Up

I've been working Piper in the round pen lately with the saddle on, getting her used to the feel of it on her back and the stirrups hitting her sides. I'm also putting a little weight in the stirrups (but not getting up in the saddle yet). She's handling it like the little champ she is. This picture was taken early this morning. She's looking pretty grown up. (sniff, sniff)

She still has lots of growing to do, though. She just turned 2 in May and is weighing in around 750 lbs. According to my measurements, she will be right around 15 hands high. Perfect!

It's amazing to me how much she has grown and progressed in a year. It has gone by so quickly and has been a real learning experience for both of us. Thankfully she is very forgiving, since she is the first horse I have ever trained.

Here she is in June of last year. A whopping 525 lbs. when I brought her home from Equine Voices.
Just a little baby! She didn't even know how to lead. We started with the very basics and have worked up to where we are today. I'm so proud of her! We've come a long way but still have a long way to go. And that's ok because I'm enjoying every minute of it.

18 comments:

jane augenstein said...

Piper is growing into a beautiful young horse (bay too, I love bays...wink, wink) Sounds like she is doing really well, yippee....soon you will be riding! Oh, what fun!!!
~Jane and Gilly~

Anonymous said...

You'll be riding to get the mail before you know it! Her coloring is gorgeous!

Sarah Sullivan said...

Wow she filled out to be a beauty!! Nice conf. too!! Love her coloring too!! Hugs, Sarah

Rural Rambler said...

Piper looks great with that weight on her and the difference is night and day from the two pictures. I am glad she has a home with you! She is a good lookin' girl.

cdncowgirl said...

Wow she is lookin' good :)

Phyllis said...

What a pretty sight!

Christina said...

She looks beautiful.

Paint Girl said...

Piper is so pretty! And she sure has grown! I also have a fondness for bays!!

Maria said...

congrats on all you've accomplished. sometimes when we look far forward it seems like so far to go but when we look back it's gratifying to see how far we've come, I've learned though that the best place to look is in the right now and it appears to be a good place for you

Carolynn Anctil said...

Wow. Good for you. I wouldn't have a clue where to even begin with a brand new horse. You're doing very well and Piper looks like a happy girl.

Angie @ thejunkranch said...

She is a cutie...and a lucky girl. I know you are excited with your start. Wishing you two the best!

Desert Rose said...

It must be fun to see her personallity emerge also. We got Jesse as a 2 1/2 year old baby and I am so glad I was there to help shape his brain. He is silly and loving and funny, I am amazed at him all the time!

OneCowgirl said...

Have you got cattle scales. How do you know exactly what those horses weigh? I think 15 hands is the perfect size horse!!

A Palmer said...

I'm so glad to hear you adopted a horse from Equine Voices. What a great organization and what a super job you've done with her. She's a beauty. It's quite a job training a horse. Congrats! Our horses are up in the mountains for the summer enjoying the cooler weather with my brother-in-law. I've given you an award if you'd like to go to my site and pick it up!

Anne

Blackfeatherfarm said...

What a fine girl she is. Aren't they forgiving, Indi is the first horse I ever trained from 9 months old, so I relate to this so well. Looks like you have done a great job. Rewarding isn't it? :)

Pony Girl said...

Wow, she is grownin' up! She is going to look so sharp under saddle. I am proud of how well you've done with her training. It's a huge task. I don't think I could train a horse at this point in my life, at least not saddle train one! :)

OneCowgirl said...

what the heck is a weight tape? : )

Five O'Clock Somewhere said...

What a fun and rewarding journey it is to raise and train a horse! I just started my three year old under saddle and I am having a blast!

She is beautiful.