Let it snow!

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! Yesterday we had our first real snow of the season (not counting a dusting on Christmas Eve) and boy was it pretty! I had stopped in last night to visit Charlie and tuck him in just as it was starting to really pick up, and then this morning we woke up to a winter wonderland :) Thinking that Charlie might enjoy a romp in the snow, Dan and I stopped by the barn this afternoon to let him play in the outdoor but he was more interested in making friends with the new mini donkey (so cute!). He did get a bit more playful when the donkey's horsey friend was brought out, but I didn't wait to see how that ended up as both of them started getting a little too frisky for my liking on the slick new snow. Here's a video from when we first let him go - unfortunately I missed the full out gallop...next time!

Donkey wasn't the only one getting the love, kisses for Pickles!

Unfortunately between holiday traveling and associated festivities I haven't had as much time to spend with Charlie over the past two weeks as I would have liked. I did get to play with him last weekend, though, and introduce him to Dan's aunt and cousin. I decided to let him loose to run around for the first time in the indoor and boy did he go nuts! Once he realized he was free to do whatever he wanted, we all got quite the show as he took off on a good 20 minute galloping-bucking-snorting-kickfest. (Um, I thought I was told my TB was calm?!)...

A bit steamy after his crazy run-around

By yesterday I was so desperate to ride that I tacked up and hopped right on; silly me for not remembering last weekend's excitement and thinking that my TB would be a good boy despite the swift temperature drop, lack of turnout due to the weather, and not having been worked in a week. Freshy McFresherson! We quickly transitioned to an intense lunging/manners lesson, and I've ultimately decided it would be a good idea to stay in this stage for a few weeks before we can move on to any of the "fun" stuff...

Every day that I'm working with Charlie I am realizing more and more how little I know about him and how much of a baby he truly is. So much to learn! Over the years I've worked with my share of young or inexperienced horses, but it's easy to forget where they started and take for granted their current good behavior. Charlie, though incredibly sweet and affectionate, is way too big to be running into me and ignoring my personal space, not to mention the ridiculous and entirely inappropriate rearing nonsense I've had to deal with a few times already. Honestly, while  it means I will have to take several steps backward to lay a new foundation with him, I'm secretly really glad to see this "pep"; initially I was afraid he might be too quiet and push-button to be exciting :)

I'll leave you with this shot of him chilling after his romp in the snow: