6/3/04
Skye Under Saddle

While I was on vacation for a couple of weeks, Skye
got handed over to Lydia. They worked well together and
seemed to have a good time while I was gone.
Lydia put Skye through her paces and I was very pleased with
the progress that they made.
Getting on and getting situated. 
At 3, Skye is one of the most relaxed horses I've ever owned.
 

Peacocks, other horses, dogs and kids rarely distracted Skye when she was working. Spooking and startling were never a concern, but sometimes when a horse was working in the other ring, Skye would look over there, instead of where she was going...
She thinks about softening at the walk, and bending is happening consistently. At the trot, she has forward, but we don't ask for much more.
 
She's been very good about concentrating on her rider when they're working.
She picks up the trot when asked now.
 
Just asking for forward and relaxed.
One ear cocked back to the rider.
 
No cantering yet. She's happy and relaxed and seems to have gotten her balance at the trot with a rider.
Out and about in the pasture. She's a confident little horse and has no trouble leaving the arena.
 
She settled in to the new place very quickly.
No jumping until next year, but she doesn't hesitate to walk over obstacles in her path.
 
Working on standing is a good thing.
Next weekend she should get to go on her first trail ride.
 
Even after working, she's happy to be around her rider.
Lydia says she was easy to work with. She said that the worst thing Skye would do is ignore her aids. I think some of that was getting used to each other. Lydia said the first time she asked for the trot, Skye hesitated, but moved into the trot and figured out how to balance with her rider. Much more willing than Emma, who needed someone on the ground with a lunge whip, for encouragement.