Baby's first snow!

I'm pretty sure anyways... I'm guessing there was no snow in Virginia being that he was there from May til September... and then here the rest of the time. I'm pretty sure our last snow was just before I got him. 

I was having a lesson with Fleck so it was already accumulating when I got home. Danny seemed to be enjoying it. :)

 Frosty Whiskers!

 Such a goofball!

 Emma and Dan were having fun! Then he was messing with Mike.

But he's so darn handsome!!

Another long line day

After Fleck's dressage lesson, Danny and I went out for a ride. I didn't do too much as I was tired from the lesson. But we logged 1.9 miles and did some running. I lunged him a bit before too, so he got more of a work out than me. He was pretty darn good. We long lined in the water and over the ditch again. Which he leapt like a giant hole. But he wasn't scared, just having fun. I foresee lots of walking ditches in our future. ;)

 

Teeth and Shoes!! Baby's growing up

Awww man.... my little baby boy is growing up! I'm partly glad and excited and partly sad. I miss my little fuzz face!

Danny got shoes again today. Wayne feels like he needs them until he grows out those cracks at least. Danny was pretty good for it. He didn't mind the shoes.. it was the sitting still part that got him. :) He wasn't too fussy until the very end. And he didn't like the hot shoeing either. But neither does Fleck. 
While I was messing with him trying to keep him entertained I noticed that he lost a tooth!! Hee hee.. He looks like a hillbilly!

So yep... little baby boy is growing up.

 

Sassy Pants!

Goofball!! Both boys were hoots today! I loaded both up after they have had at least two weeks off. Danny loaded right up like a champ and off we went. He stayed on the trailer munching alfalfa while Fleck and I did dressage and then some galloping in the XC field. Then it was Dan's turn. He was filthy so I brushed him off as best as I could. I really think that white butt of his is going to be hard to keep clean! I tacked him up in his long line gear and off we went.
He was a bit of a turd quite frankly! He was much less brave today than usual. I had to go to his head a few times today but he didn't balk as much. But overall he was good. Feisty too - quite a few cantering and bucks thrown in there. We ended up doing 2.28 miles though and were out for 40 minutes. And he crossed the little damn behind the parking lot on his own this time. Granted we were going the other direction, but still. 

He's such a goober! 
Video of Sassy Pants himself 

More Danny long lining 

Saying good-bye to 2013

Well Dannaroo, it's been a great year! What an amazing little superstar I have!! I'm really looking forward to 2014, when Danny turns 3 and I can officially start working him. He's going to be so much fun!!

To finish off the year, I hauled him and Fleck to Ashland for some fun. Danny hung out on the trailer eating alfalfa while Fleck and I did some dressage. Then it was Danny's turn. Fleck got to stay and eat alfalfa while Dan and I went out. I put him in his surcingle and long lines and off we went. He was pretty brave and strode out nicely. We trotted some and headed to the lake. They have fake geese out there and at first Danny was a little snorty. He settled pretty quickly though and bravely walked up and sniffed the one on the ground. Good boy! So we carried on and headed back up to the great Northern. As we were heading down the path to get back to the XC field, Danny noticed the cars on the road ahead. They are kind of up the hill and it was just starting to get dark so some had lights on. Danny was freaked out!!! He was so scared that he was shaking. He was about 18 hands tall and nostrils flared, eyeballs wide as they could be! I walked up to his head and tried to calm him down. It took quite a few tries, but finally, few steps by few steps, we were able to walk down the path and get to the bridge. Once we got a few steps before the bridge, he seemed to realize they weren't eating him and took a deep breath and barged on ahead.  Good boy!

We trotted up the hill in the XC field after taking a brief break in the water complex. Then as we headed back to the trailers, he heard Fleck and got a bit pushy about heading home. I was sort of half debating lunging him some anyways, so I took him back out to the field and made him lunge. He was a bit excited so we started with some cantering. ;) But he settled nicely and gave me some really good trots on the hill. When we headed back in the second time, he was a gentleman and stopped when I stopped everytime. 

He's a smart cookie! We ended up doing 1.5 miles during our long line session. He's going to be my motivation to help get me fit. I figured lots of long lining in 2014 to help me do my runs. :) 

Shenanigans!!!

Mr Dan was fully ENJOYING the day of no rain!!! I love when he gets the crazies!!! Oh he just cracks me up. Of course... he managed to pull his shoe. The therapeutic one.... sigh. But it's the muds fault :)

You still love me right Mom?!? :)

Merry Christmas!!!

It was a most excellent Christmas!! Despite the fact that I was a little too tired after working all week/night to go on that "Baby's first trail ride" with Mike on Fleck like I was planning. Maybe New Years! 

But I did get Danny snuggles!! He was on Santa's nice list and got carrots and apples and a alfalfa cube/beet pulp/peppermint treat mash :) 

 

Hee hee... i thought Daniel needed the "irish" hat :)