I have ridden Dream a few times this past month and he has recalled his training each time.  Working a full time job and taking care of the farm does not always allow me to ride him every day as I should but he is very smart and remembers his lessons well.

Yesterday we took Dream to the Hicksboro Trail Ride, his first.  It was a small turn out of riders, approx 150 because the weather was overcast.  It was a beautiful day and Dream handled the terrain very well.  We did our first stream crossing with some hesitation but on our return he walked right across with the other more experienced riders.

This was the first time he had other horses coming up behind him.  He handled it well but prefered his barn buddy behind him.

As his lessons progress he is learning to balancing himself with the additional weight of a rider.

Dream has done well on his rides so far but he is still only a baby when it comes to understanding what he is being asked.

Dream and I worked in the round pen on steering. legs and standing quietly while under saddle.  I tried riding in the arena first but he needed someplace smaller to understand I wanted a continual trot until I said stop.  On Saturday he did not understand what was wanted, by Sunday his inderstanding was much better.  I have to remember he is young and has not been

Dream has been doing really well this week so we decided to add a ride down to the neighbors.  And he did a great job, there's no wallking on the birm for Dream.  He walked right out onto the blacktop without hesitating.  He even went by the scarry mailboxes.  Since this was the first time on the road I wasn't to sure how he would handle cars and trucks going by him.  No problem, I asked him to stop to wait for a truck with boat to pass us, he stood solid without a flinch.  I am really pleased with this guy.

Dream's ground work stepped up last winter. He has a good foundation for beginning work under saddle.  This spring we started showing Dream in halter classes.    He walked nicely into the  ring and trotted off with willingness. The first couple classes he would call for his brother back at the trailer. He has progressed nicely, the last show he stood quietly the entire time and he proceeded to take a nap while the scores were being placed.

Dream was started under saddle on Sunday, July 5.  Donner, Bandit and Sammy were going back to their pasture down the road, Dream was ponied along with the other boys.  I tried mounting him a few times from both sides then sat on his back.  He accepted all this  calmly so I walked him around the neighbor's yard a few times and we started down the long winding drive to the road.  He did extremely well, now for the next steps.

Working in the round pen in the evening with Dream has been encouraging.  He is easy to work with and when he gets a concept he retains it.  We have been working on walking on que and steering.  He has progressed to serpentine excercises and is doing well with them.

Today was a really big day for Dream and myself.  It was his first big ride.  We trailered Dream along with Donner and Bandit to Umstead State Park.  The first part of the ride was ponying him to accustom him to bicycles and joggers.  Halfway along the trails I switched from riding Donner to Dream.  He was a very solid ride along the trails, he didn't start at any of the bicylclists or joggers, he was not in the least spokey.  It was a very enjoyable ride and I look forward to more of the same.