Mr Joe and Mr Jett

Hey look, finally at long last a video of me riding Joe! And let me tell you, I haven't had a chance to SEE myself ride in a long long time, and I am slightly horrified. Please be kind. I had no idea I had such a bad habit of leaning forward, and by god! What is that awful rocking I am doing in the canter? So since seeing this video, I am attempting to make a serious effort to lean BACK.
It has been too long since my last update, oops. But nothing too different has been happening. Have been riding Joe- and he is fabulous of course. I like to play with what he knows and can do. We can now do halt-canters both ways pretty consistently. I have been practicing a lot of haunches in/shoulders in. Both at the walk and the trot. I still struggle a lot with sitting his trot, but once I thought SIT BACK, it is much easier to do, although still not easy by any means. I have used him a few times to pony Jett, who is progressing quite a bit in his training, despite not being worked very often or regularly. Which is great news.
Speaking of Jett, he is coming along. We can now walk/trot him under saddle. Not the best steering at the trot still, but he is forward and goes when you tell him, comes back down to a walk or a halt in an instant. His trot is just a little too forward, he rushes too fast. But it will come. And quite exciting, I rode him in his first canter under saddle last week! It was a little nerve-wracking...We lunged him in a canter both ways and he had some scooting- jumpy bucky moments. But hey, what the heck I thought, its now or never! He is short! So we kept him on the lunge line and cantered both ways. No incidents! He picked up the canter and went along quietly! No hunching, not even a thought of bucking or getting silly! Great success! Going the the right though is very rocky and awkward. He is very very one-sided. He counter bends a LOT going that way, so the canter is very difficult. He does it trotting too, just not so badly. So I think it is time to introduce him to side reins while lunging. Lets straighten that booger out! And last time my buddy and I rode together, we took Jett outside, and after the huge evil bot fly chasing him and stinging poor Jett was over, we rode Joe and Jett together down Beasely road. I ponied Jett off Joe. The boys did fabulous! So Jett's first outing went lovely. No spooking or sillyness.
Now today I am going to take Joe on a trail ride. A slightly more real trail ride! Something that isn't riding down apaved road! YAY! My neighbor told me I can take Joe through their gate and ride on their back 50 acres, much of which is field. Oh so I am excited! I can really take Joe out for real! So that is todays plan.
And speaking of taking Joe out, I am now in the market for a horse trailer, at long last. I got approved for a loan and now only need to find one that would be approved and is in my budget. Tricky thing is it needs to be small and lightweight enough for our rather very small rig to haul, but big enough for hugemongous Joe to fit in. So I am looking at two horse slants. Found a couple promising ones so far; need to go out and start checking them out now. Exciting!! Then I can start hauling Joe to real trail rides, horse camping, little shows at the fairgrounds, the beach...wherever I want!