Baloo finally gets turned out with other horses now! He is in the field of TBs lol.

Updates (since I've been slacking)

So, we've had a couple lessons since I last updated and I am still noticing such a big improvement in him. We have began teaching him how to get into a frame but are easing into it every slowly with no more than 10-ish minutes of frame work in a session. He has developed the muscles to go from a canter to a rhythmic trot and then quickly down to the walk. His canter has also become very uphill and nice which is incredible.
Today, my trainer was busy unpacking so I took Baloo out into the fields for a hack. Besides being followed my a cheeky little Raccoon it was super nice to just ride out for a good hour and have some fun. I definitely would've stayed out longer if it wasn't already a bit late. We trotted and loped around and I could feel how open and uphill his stride was (literally the best feeling ever) and was super pleased with how good he walked away from the barn and all of his amigos. On the downside, of course he had to pull a couple nails from his shoe so those will have to be tacked back in sometime soon. Otherwise he just hangs out living his best life lol.

Aw, that's awesome! He looks like a little colt out in the field, haha! I'm glad the ride went well, did he spook with the raccoon at all?

Nope, he's pretty chill even birds flying up from the tall grass in front of us didn't phase him. The only thing he kinda spooked at was a frog that dipped into the water when we walked by, and honestly it scared me too lol

Wow, that's so awesome! Haha, frogs scare me too!

Oh also, I won't be seeing him today but I will be riding him and another mare tomorrow. Not quite sure if I will just hack him out or do an actual session yet. Again, no lesson tomorrow as my trainer will be out of town. I'm thinking a short workout then hacking out for an hour or two.

Oh also, I won't be seeing him today but I will be riding him and another mare tomorrow. Not quite sure if I will just hack him out or do an actual session yet. Again, no lesson tomorrow as my trainer will be out of town. I'm thinking a short workout then hacking out for an hour or two.

Small update: I decided to bring Baloo home today. Not having him here just got a little unsettling. Not that anything was wrong with the barn but going out to ride only 3 or 4 times a week to work and ride just wasn't enough.

He is adorable! He is making great progress!

Update:

We hauled to an indoor arena to ride today. I worked on the more basic side of what we were doing in lessons. I felt that he was getting anxious during the work at the barn and wanted him to just loosen up a little and enjoy being ridden. He responded to me much much better than he ever does during our lessons as well which was surprising. I took him for a spin around the barrels (if you didn't know we run barrels and poles, all the western stuff really on top of English) and let me tell you I was SHOCKED at how good he was. Tried eight barrel first but he was kinda iffy when turning 3rd barrel but to the left it could not have been better. His first time literally EVER going around the barrels at more than a jog (second time going around them overall in his life) and he already was loping the whole pattern with nearly perfect turns and beautiful flying changes. All the while still maintaining uphill rhythm and really stretching through his back. I was doing this in my English tack while my sister and my mother were running their true barrel horses so it was a little difficult to really help him through the turns in my saddle. Regardless I am beyond proud of him and I'm thinking he could make a decent barrel horse.
After arena work we went out to the half mile galloping track and loped and galloped out there for a while. I allowed him to let his inner racehorse out and race against my sister and her cowhorse. Pretty sure he enjoyed it considering he just wanted to keep running. He is such a gentleman when it comes to going straight down to a loose rein walk from a full gallop. I'm so happy I decided to bring him home. Having my boy close is so much better for us both :D