Bella and I did our first Gymkhana. We entered 4 events and won 1 second place and 3 third place ribbons! Her biggest fear was the white chalk start line she had to cross. Who would of thought! LOL.

How cool!! I have yet to ride Cody in any kind of competitions. Do you think she liked it?

I think so. She really started to settle down towards the end. There were only a couple things that really startled her, but lots of distractions. However, didn't take much to get her going again. We only trotted the events so I can't wait to see what she can do when she lopes them. I havent pushed her into a lope yet. I think I am too chicken. She is close though her trot has gotten really fast so I think she is just about there.

This was only our second time off the property and our first real long ride. About 4 hours of me on her back vs. the normal 20 - 30 minutes. So she had a really big day last Saturday with the ribbons to prove it.

I was like you, chicken to canter. My last 4 yr. old fell with me at the canter and crushed my foot/ankle so I have a little paranoia but while trail riding one day when he was good and tired, I finally got brave enough, let the other horses go ahead and then encouraged him to canter up to them. He cross-fired the whole way, felt horrible, but I've been much braver since. I taught him to canter on the lunge line so now I tell him to canter and he does it. We've only done straight stretches on trail, no arena work yet, that's next. He's such a moose I don't want to push him while he's still growing! He just outgrew his extra wide English saddle......

Congrats to you! Pictures please