First day under saddle ... what a super star!

Yesterday was our first day of work in our new home. When I got to the farm Blu was turned out in a large paddock and he had his head down eating pulling at the fresh shoots of Spring grass. When I got close enough I called out my usual greeting, "Hellooooo Blu Blu!" He immediately picked up his head and whinnied to me. What a sweet boy. After a warm greeting, I had some stuff to move in/ around so I left him be while I went about settling in.

When I took him out of the paddock. I took him for a walk in the outdoor arena. He was quite looky and called to other horses but he never put a foot wrong. They were doing some excavating next to the outdoor and had a bucket loader dropping dirt and rocks so I thought it best to do our work inside for the day.

I took him up to the barn to get him ready and he has already figured out which stall is his. He went in had a drink and then set about munching on the huge pile of hay he always has in his stall. Free choice hay anyone? Blu votes an enthusiastic "yes"!

I tacked him up and as I was doing so the barn owners came through the barn and made much of my handsome boy. One of the barn owners said she noticed he was a dunker and recommended I ask the barn manager -- a wonderful man named Hueler -- to add a water bucket to his stall so he would not be mucking up his automatic waterer... How happy am I? The water bucket will be at the front of the stall where his pile of hay and dengi bucket are located and the automatic waterer is in the back of his stall. Did I report that his stall is a HUGE foaling stall? OMG it is huge. So I think he will be less inclined to dip his dengi and hay in the automatic waterer.

We then went down to the massive indoor arena. I decided to lunge him first out of my desire to see what he would be like. He was perfect. As a matter of fact I think the light lunging really helped him under saddle. He was all warmed up when I got on and there was no stiffness or funky steps. I think I am going to lightly lunge before I get on him every time.

After we were done with a nice work out. I gave him his first bath of the season. The Sore No More Massage Shampoo is my absolute favorite after a work out. While it is not going to get the urine/ manure stains out off his feet and hocks, it is great for cleaning and giving a liniment bath. He really enjoyed it.

Then we went off to hand graze. His favorite part I am sure.

I think he will be happy in his new home once he settles. It will take both of us a little bit to get used to this new very busy environment but I am sure we will figure it out.