Here's one of my homebred's, Bodacious Bokkus (renamed Worth The Wait aka Reiley) making his debut at baby greens at Monmouth May, 2010. Gretchen informed me that they didn't have a chance to warm up before the class and Reiley was a SUPER STAR! Congrats to you both.
Lauren Gould, owner of my homebred Bulmers Bugaboo (renamed Xander, short for Alexander the Great) said he was such an easy baby to start. Now at 3 1/2 years old he's already been off farm schooling and to his first Hunter Pace where he was a star! He's also figuring out his flying changes and hacks quietly around the farm. Did I mention this boy LOVES to jump?
8/4/09
Hi Joanne,
I can't even begin to tell you how amazing he is doing. We officially 'broke' him in March and ever since then he has been improving in leaps and bounds. Everyone who meets him is always amazed when they find out he is three. He is the barn favorite and resident Labrador. He has one of the best personalities and best work ethics I have ever seen in a horse. Everyday I ride him in bareback from the field in a halter/lead and he's fine. He crosses tarps, bridges, and goes through water. We can clip him (ears included) while he is in his stall without a halter. Works in side reins, works in draw reins, nothing fazes him. Right now we are walking, trotting, cantering and leg yielding. He has awesome transitions and stops on a dime when you say 'ho.' He has simple changes down pat and is starting to figure out flying changes-he gets the front but is still trying to figure out how to work his hind end :) We took him to a schooling show in June (didn't show/just schooled) and he was wonderful. Took him back a week later and showed him in the beginner hunter. It was a huge class and unfortunately he didn't pin. Janelle and I asked the judge for her feed back after the show and she was shocked to find out that he was only three. She wanted to know where we found him so of course I gave her your info :) We took him to another schooling show this past weekend and showed him in pleasure where he won his first blue!!!! I was so proud of him! We will probably keep entering him in pleasure classes until the end of this year. We are still waiting for his knees to close before we jump him but hopefully he will be ready for some cross rail classes next summer. More pictures to come soon!!!! Stay in touch!!!!
9/24/08 - Following quote extracted from email:
"Kelsey has a much better feel for Bouncer now. The 2 of them are getting some nice compliments from some very good instructors. He can be very "fancy" when he gets the frame in dressage - it's getting it and keeping it that she is working on. Several people have said how athletic he is and how he can really jump. Which is very true and Kelsey is having more success getting him to do a clean jumping round on the first go round. Kelsey's riding instructor rode him recently and said he is tricky to ride (because he can be with you one minute and not the next) and an instructor at the camp (without knowing him) said the same thing and told Kelsey she was the right rider for him because she has soft hands. So we've finally arrived at the place we want to be with him as the two of them continue to make progress together."
