Caiden's new pony

[Jenni]

Smokey seems like a pretty good little citizen. Last weekend we hauled him out to hit the trails for the first time. Seems like the type that will just get in line and follow along - which is what they told me he has been doing with them. I'm not sure how much he's been hauled but he seemed to not be too excited about going somewhere new. There were a number of other horses at the trail head and he didn't really care about them. Chance was still not sure she wanted to be friends with him so we had one incident where I lost the lead rope but Kelsey stopped and he just went as far as her pony and stopped and waited. Planning to get him out more this week and get Caiden riding in the round pen a little. Also hope to get in another camping trip with him yet this fall. We went camping the week after we got him but I didn't take him since I didn't know him well enough so now Caiden is begging to take his pony camping.

I wasn't sure how to manage him as we've got more grass than his old place but he has really bad teeth and is thin. I decided to kind of treat him like Sofia. He and Sofia are locked up together at night. At first there was a lot of kicking and arguing but now they are getting along well and are so darn cute when they stand next to each other and whinnie at me to come feed them. Then I turn him out first thing in the morning with a grazing muzzle but leave her in with her am hay. Then my husband turns Sofia out at noon and I round them both up at about 5 pm for supper (he gets senior feed) and night time lock up. Getting his teeth done is on the agenda for next week.

Going to get my pony



and take him to the barn all by myself





on the trail



after the ride

[Idaho Linda]

What lucky kids! I can feel the smiles from here. And how empowering for both of them to be able to go get their ponies, all by themselves.

I think you need to provide us with a banner pic--nothing is cuter than kids with their ponies.

[ride4fun]

Yeah what Linda just said. Thanks for the morning smile

[Jenni]

This one makes Kelsey look so grown up.

[Jenni]

Now they don't have to fight over who gets to feed the one pony either. Caiden gets Smokey's grain and Kelsey gets Sofia's. Caiden does argue about how much his pony should get and how many treats he should put in the grain bucket, lol.

[Trailpal]

What a cool story!

[donna]

I love this! Wonderful pictures.

[Mary Ann]

Those kids and their ponies are so darn cute it just about hurts! I love seeing this. You're making some wonderful memories that will live in their hearts long after we're all gone.

[Jenni]

They are so darn cute. Makes me smile every morning when I go out to feed and the 2 ponies are standing next to each other whinnying to me. Their coloring is so opposite, but Sofia's spots match Smokey's color - both are silver dapple blacks. I'm waiting on a new saddle pad before we do too much riding. Smokey is kind of a hard fit because of high withers and being thin but I think he's already putting on some weight.

[Marci]

Oh man what lucky kids. I would have given my eye teeth to have had a pony as a kid. It sounds like he is a really good one too.

[Jenni]

Went for a little ride last night with me walking and them riding. They told us Smokey was just starting on neck reining but Caiden was able to turn him and he seems relatively responsive. Tonight I'll probably get Caiden riding in the round pen - he wanted to ride in there last night but I have horses in the pasture the round pen is and those horses haven't truly met Smokey yet.