But how can you fault him?

He thinks he's really fast. And I love to watch him canter....I always have from almost the day he was born. But he really isn't THAT fast, it just makes him happy to think he is.
But this is the canter that makes me want to be in a hurry for him to get old enough to ride. It's balanced and a lovely rocking horse.
He still knows how to sweet talk his mom.....he is still the only horse she will tolerate getting in her space. She rules the roost, except when it comes to her darling son.....the Samster. Can you tell they are related?
And he is learning to strike a pose. Could he get much cuter?

Herd Dynamics

When Sammy was first introduced to the other kids after his stall confinement days, he was shy and low man in the pecking order and most often the odd man out. Those days are gone and they are really their own herd and good friends and playmates. They will share their water bucket and all is well. But somehow over the months, Sammy has climbed the ladder and now is a bit of a ..... shall we say......pain in the tush for the others. He has discovered his inner Quarter Horse and is learning to cut them like a QH would try to cut a cow.
Of course he's not really that speedy and has to use any advantage he can get. He will pin his ears and threaten then cut in front and slam on the brakes.
He seems to think this is a pretty cool trick. Too bad Vantage doesn't enjoy it quite so much.
And then there's Masquerade....she is used to being the boss mare (young though she is) and she still tries to excercise her authority, but Sammy is trying to perfect the Quarter Horse technique, even if she is a hand or so taller than he is. He doesn't care.....he can reach and get some air time.
Now how sad is this? He has a puny little buck so he thinks he can practice behind the tree and no one will notice. Goofy little man. He's getting a little big for his britches .

Sammy has a hero worship thing for his big "brother" Noah. He likes to stand and watch him in the other pasture and tends to be at the fence with him when he can. Of course that doesn't stop him from clacking his baby talk (when do they stop that?) with him and getting in the occasional chomp just among family. Noah is a very sweet laid back soul and usually is pretty tolerant but he did finally chomp back on him and put him in his place....Horray for Noah!
And look, Sammy is hiding his head in shame.........not really but it's a pretty cute picture anyway.
We're working the standing still and posing like a model baby. My goal is to not be laughed out of the ring during his big Hunter Breeding debut.....with them whispering.....poor dear, doesn't she know they shouldn't be here!
But I look at this sweet face.........and all is right with the world.

He's coming along!

Today was his day to attach the reins to the bridle. I don't know what I was expecting but, it was no different than having a lead rope. He is getting very good at listening and is learning to walk when I walk and trot when I ask him to trot.....and boy can he trot. (and I found out he can also canter while I jog.) Allison trotted him today for the first time for me and I got to see him coming at me straight on. His legs are straight as an arrow with the backs nicely in line with the fronts. And then from the side...................wow. He was moving out today and it made my heart stop. Mistakes he made the day before, were not repeated today....he is coming along!

Chomping at the bit

Today was the day Sammy met the bit and bridle. He was a very good boy but could not understand about this chewy thing in his mouth. And chew on it he did. He was very confused that it would not come out of his mouth if he dropped his head and opened his mouth. My ebay purchase to use for practice fit him pretty well. I still have some adjusting and fine tuning but all in all, it was very undramatic.
He chewed on the bit like it was chewing gum (and the hundred of peppermints we gave him) for about 15 minutes then we called it a day. He had no trouble spitting it out and seemed very proud of himself.
Then he got some practice standing like a good boy for the horse show. Not ready to try with the bit and bridle yet, but he will be soon. I was at the wrong angle when I took this so he looks a little light behind.....but he is not.

This is from a better angle but he bent his front leg a smidge. At least his ears are up. You can't win them all.........Sarah trotted him for me and he actually has a real floaty trot with very little knee bend. He didn't have a big reach with his shoulder but I will try to trot him out with a bigger step when we show him. No, pictures of that....I was too busy watching.

Sammy' Best Friend

They play grab the halter all day long. Sometimes they play nip the hamstring. And sometimes they just like to run around in a pack. But, they both look like they were playing it up for the camera and had to check me out while playing to be sure I was getting the shot!

That's a lot of legs and this shows how different the two boys are bred. Sammy, Quarter horse/WB cross, head and tail low. Vantage, saddlebred, head and tail high. It's very good for both of them to have each other to play with. Although now I have to remind Sammy every now and then that I am the human mom and not to be played with!

My baby is growing up.

My baby is growing up. I never really have a chance to look at the rear view because he's usually in my face. I had a chance to look today and wow, his tail is past the points of his hocks. How did that happen? It's starting to look like a real tail instead of a baby whisk broom.


And look at this face. Where did the baby go? He is starting to remind me more and more of his daddy.....with a touch of Lily thrown in. We have actually been able to clip is whiskers 3 times now and he needs it again. He doesn't love it but he will put up with it. I think the ears will be a whole other story!



And look, he still had his nice balance canter even with his clothes on. He has a closed front blanket and is surprisingly good about us putting it on over his head. It's all part of growing up. Next up.....his good friend Jinx had leant me a very special and wonderful bit for his first try. We are very fortunate that Sammy has such good friends. His Aunt Natalie has a nice bridle that she is going to share with us for him to wear on those special occasions. He'll probably get introduced to a bit and bridle next week...........stay tuned.