Sherlock

So. Cute. 

Sherlock is a 2004 model TB something.  He's not tattooed and not papered, so I guess we can call him grade, but rumor has it he's some sort of cross. His earlier days were spent as a fox hunter.  He's approximately 16.2 hh, absolutely adorable, and owned by an equally adorable 9 year old girl.  He spends most of his time being a saintly 2 ft packer, but his little girl's mom is always wanting him to do more.  We've been working him up to potentially show at 2'6 in a couple of the late fall shows, and in April I took him cross country schooling.

please don't judge my eq too much in the following photos, I am fully aware that it leaves much to be desired!!!

Scope much?

As far as we know, he's never evented.  He's a pretty steady eddie most of the time, but he definitely has a 'go' button!  I'm super excited to see how he does at his (and my) first jumper show next Sunday!

He's a bit awkward and uncoordinated - oftentimes it feels like his front end and his back end don't entirely communicate - but he's game for just about anything. (except for ditches. ditches are bad.)

Ahem.  Ditches.  I actually thought that he was going to jump that.

So hopefully there won't be any ditches on our course...

It was awkward for both of us. 

Although he did 'jump' it eventually...

there's an even better one, but I can't get it to upload. sigh.

And we had a really amazing time.  It was Trainer K's idea that I take him, and I wasn't sure at first - I took Eddie for a spin last Friday, and then reunited with Sherlock this past Monday...and remembered that he is a wonderful creature that I love very much, and that taking him would be a blast, etc etc, and with his owner's blessing, we are signed up for the jumper show at JCEC (September 11), a Combined Training show at Sunny Oak where we will be doing our CT stuff plus one extra dressage test (!!!!) (September 17), and of course, our Mini Event on October 2nd, at Queeny Park.   So much excite.

contemplating life. best buddy Watson in the background.

Thankfully, we are set up with several dressage lessons between now and then.  The first one is on Monday, and I am hoping that it goes well!  Dressage is going to be our weakest area, closely followed by cross country - Sherlock can be a touch herd sour, and I'm not entirely sure how he is going to feel about going off in a field by himself.  Especially if ditches are involved.

Also water, he's not entirely sure about water.

Regardless of what happens, I know that we'll have a great time.  I am 100% sure that I made the right choice in which pony to take.  And his owners are beyond thrilled that he's embarking on these adventures!  They're hoping to come watch the event, and possibly the CT show as well.

post-schooling selfies with my buddy. 

BRIEF ASIDE, Leo was a disaster for the farrier today.  He's not intentionally being bad - he is very clearly terrified, although we can't figure out why.  He was so okay in the shed when it was just me and him.  We had to sedate him.  He also managed to do about 7 weeks of growth in 5 weeks, so we've taken him off of his hoof supplement - it gives him super toes, apparently.  I'm going to start feeding him in the farrier shed every now and then, and possibly hanging out outside of it while the farrier is shoeing other horses during the next few weeks.  Poor dude.  Life is very hard for him sometimes.