Khol's First Year

Actually, what I mean is Khol's first year of being ridden.  (Just couldn't resist adding the boy's baby picture!)  One year ago, November 12, 2013, Khol was ridden for the very first time.  Has he learned a lot in the past year?  Hmm, not really (Ah ha...you thought I was going to say yes, didn't you!).   We have really been taking our time with him and his riding experiences have been low key for the most part.  Now, have I learned a lot about Khol?  Yes, yes, yes!

Khol and I after our ride tonight....50 minutes of walking and circles...slow and steady.  

I've used the year to really get to know this horse because as an older rider, I am not totally comfortable on a horse's back until I "know" the horse.  Now I have a pretty good idea of what makes him spook (very little) and how he moves when he spooks (again very little!).  I know he is much more "easy going" than Paris and Aziim, but when he says "no" he has a strength that they do not have.  His neck is very strong (lots of bending coming up this winter) and he has no issue with just "locking" it if he decides he doesn't want to turn!  He will get a lot more riding this winter than last; lots of the Tidal Treasures crew will join in, as they have been doing,  so that he will get used to different riders and different experiences.  He is very much a "text book" type horse which means they will all learn some good "horse training" lessons with him.  How exciting!  

Khol and I during his first competition.  Great...black horse and number 13!

I entered him in one competition near the end this season because I was pretty sure  that mentally he was ready, even though he's only four years old.  Paris on the other hand - it did not even occur to me to enter her in the fall of her fourth year....she was still having some pretty good opinions about the whole "bit" thing until we spent the following winter lunging in a surcingle.  Khol had a few moments during the competition where he was excited, but I have learned so much about him over the summer and I am just so much more experienced, that it was easy for me to distract him and get him refocused.  I just felt like acknowledging him today and recognizing that he's been ridden for a year now..and hopefully for many, many more years to come!

Now how did that baby picture sneak in there!  Oh Khol, you are a cutie!