Breaking my first horse...new pics

[maplelawnstables]

I had my youngest sister, Christian, take some pictures of me riding.
I bought Sunshin as an unhandled 2 yo in Feb and after doing lots and lots of ground work, I gathered enough courage to start riding her (slowly). I've been taking her to a friend's (trainer) once a week to get tips. I did about a week of walking, a week of trotting, and started on loping this past Thursday. I have so much fun with her, I ride her more than my broke horses now.
Here are the results of todays session
lunging


warming up with a few tricks






riding




Look, Mom, no feet


a few pictures of her "brakes"




no, I'm not crazy at all...


my photograper an Mo, my yearling


a video of Sunshine's nice little jog
http://s252.photobucket.com/albums/h...t=MOV04199.flv

Thanks for looking.

[Gotta Love Duns]

It looks like you are doing an awsome job with her! Congrats!!

[BarnBum]

Wow Girl !! You have done a great job !! Looks great, love the tricks !!

[palomina_08]

WOW Girl Nice job!!!!!!! You doing great!!!!!!! She a very pretty palomino !! I have a pally my self, 2 1/2 years 3 years dont know exact age!!! My palomino also does that trick, and she alos lies donw like yours!! How many hands is she right now? she looks big in some pictures, and great looking but, and body structure!! keep going you doing great!!

[maplelawnstables]

Thanks everyone. I taught her to lay down beacause she had a problem with submitting to my authority (it came out as bucking). At the moment I believe she is 14.2/3, I haven't measured her in a few months. When I weight taped her last month she was 900 lbs, she's a chunk!

[lady dumpling]

Wow I"m impressed,awesome job.When you are out in Alberta let me know I have a pony with a problem with submitting to authority also,could use a lesson or two.

[royaldakotabreez]

wow....could definitely use a few tips here too! she's definitely a looker! with a set of brakes to boot!

[Tippy]

Great job Looks like you are havng a ton of fun as well

[kanoo32]

WOW! What a job you are doing................very nice horse!

[maplelawnstables]

Thanks, I know I still have a lot of things to learn. If any one wants the steps I used to lay her down I can pm them to you, just let me know (it's a little to lengthy for posting I think).
The brakes are all her own, and she's pretty sensitve with them too. I like it a lot, but I catches me a little off-guard when I shift a little to ask for a trot from the lope and she sits down to stop instead. She stops (not quite as well)and backs without reins too. Not too shabby for only riding her 3 weeks.

[jolene.fargo]

What a fantastic job you've done!! I love the trotting picture of you and her, she looks so focused on you!
Question: how did you train for the lay down? I believe you start with the bow but I haven't taught my horse to bow that far seeing as I don't fully know how, she just bows for treats for stretching purposes.

[maplelawnstables]

I taught her to lay down by first teaching her to bend her nose one way and pick up the opposite foot. Once she was comfortable with that I asked her to rock her weight back, then touch a knee to the ground, then rest with a knee on the ground, then FLOP (she's still not the most graceful). I took my time and let her decide whe to go on to the next step. The first time she laid down, I was actually just asking her to kneel/bow for a little longer than she did before. By the end of a week and a half I had her laying down willingly on both sides. (I did it before and after I lunged her)

[lbequ4002]

have you thought about riding her English some? she seems like a really cute mover.

[SheriK]

Holy wow! What a great job you have done. It looks like you have definitely spent a ton of time with her. She's a beautiful girl. Was teaching her to lie down hard?

[Carri]

Wow, you have done an amazing job with her!

[maplelawnstables]

Thanks, I still haven't gathered the courage to start her sister, "Twnikle Toes", but that will have to start soon. The only thing hard about laying her down was making sure I didn't rush her(the more time you spend on one step the more willing they are to do the next). If anyone wants the steps to do it, just pm me. An English saddle will be added once her canter evens out a little (she's still trying to figure out how to balance with me while loping). I'm hoping to try her over a few very small jumps/crossrails too. She'll be my all-around girl.
Can anybody see anything that makes her suited or not suited for certain disciplines (dressage, pleasure, jumping, reining, cutting... anything!) If you think she looks like she can handle it, I'll go learn it and see what happens!!!

[cook1745]

That is awesome what a great job!!!!

[rivervu2]

Originally Posted by maplelawnstables

Thanks, I still haven't gathered the courage to start her sister, "Twnikle Toes", but that will have to start soon. The only thing hard about laying her down was making sure I didn't rush her(the more time you spend on one step the more willing they are to do the next). If anyone wants the steps to do it, just pm me. An English saddle will be added once her canter evens out a little (she's still trying to figure out how to balance with me while loping). I'm hoping to try her over a few very small jumps/crossrails too. She'll be my all-around girl.
Can anybody see anything that makes her suited or not suited for certain disciplines (dressage, pleasure, jumping, reining, cutting... anything!) If you think she looks like she can handle it, I'll go learn it and see what happens!!!

I would definitely do some dressage with her. She's a lovely mover with a nice neck. Even if you go in a different direction having a dressage foundation will only make her better at everything else. Good luck, she's gorgeous.

[Saelym]

Very nice job.. and adorable little mare! Keep up the good work.

[Crookedblaze]

Wow she's gorgeous! Congrats on your success, it looks like she's going good!