I picked up Kitty (a then four year old mare) one year ago. She only had 20 rides on her at that time. She had been packed in the mountains for a weekend as well. I couldn’t resist when I saw her. I just had to bring her home. I still have that same problem that little kids have, “Daddy can we keep her; please, please Daddy?”
There are some things that are tougher than others to outgrow in life.

I rode her here at home a little bit, but I found myself mostly taking her to the mountains.

She went to mountain lakes, to the Madison range for four days, rode out on some ranches and I took her to a Joe Wolter cow working clinic.

She proved to be sensitive, yet tough. I really enjoyed her quiet nature. No fuss, no muss, no drama. I could just hop on and go. Every once in a while I really appreciate having a horse around that I can do that with. Kitty has been my go-to girl for that.

This year I increased the pressure on her a bit. Some of March and all of April I rode her regularly. I introduced lateral flexion, I expected more of her in her transitions, I worked on improving her ability to guide. I didn’t just lope circles, I would pick out places to lope to. I steer her here and steer her there, then leave her alone.

She’s a long ways from being what I would call a broke horse.

But the other day, I needed to put a student on a horse other than our regular lesson horse, Baron. I choose Kitty because I trust her to be level headed.

It’s a bit of a graduation when this happens. When a colt that I have considered green gets enough education under their belt that I trust them with my students.

I was very happy with the outcome. She performed quite well for my student. She really never missed a beat.

This student just happens to ride english, which not many of my students do. Kitty isn’t far enough along to be ridden “on the bit”. My student had to ride her with a little slack in the reins but Kitty did her best in every other respect.

She’s a good little girl that Kitty. I think I’ll keep her.