August 28 - Ding heads off to learn to be a big girl

Ding left this afternoon for 60 days training. She is at a TWH facility. Young girl is the main trainer. She has been training and showing her own horses for 10 years...and doing well. She has an outdoor arena, round pen and miles and miles of trails and fields to use. Everything is outside - BONUS for me. Oh...her round pen is in the middle of the pen where all the horses are. I asked why and she said it helps the horse learn to concentrate on listening to her.

Ding settled in really well...walked through a herd of very well behaved horses to get to her pen - it is 10 x 20 pipe - and runs alongside all the other horses so she won't get lonely.

This girl's own horses were very well behaved as we walked through...one came up fast and she said "bella slow"...and the horse slowed down and stopped until Ding went past. They were all very friendly too.

Her plan of action is to play with Ding for a couple days on the ground - do basic stuff to see what she will take and what she needs more work on. She will then start with the tack and start riding.

She said I can come out every weekend if I want and for the last couple weeks she is there, I can go out there during the week and we can ride together in the arena and around the place before she comes home.

So I am happy with my choice so far.