My first ride on Hawk

went fine! He is super responsive, that is for sure!
I just rode him for a half hour or so, in the round pen. We mostly walked and trotted and Barry noticed a wierd thing I do with my legs that led me to realize that when we do anything but walk, my feet dont reach the bottom of my stirrups. No wonder I get all cattywampus so easily.

Hawk sure can stop! The slightest lean back, or saying whoa and BAM, he stops dead. It is pretty cool, other than him thinking I am leaning on purpose when I am not always. We will learn each other though.

He likes to side pass and is definitely better to his right side. I had to concentrate to be really quiet with my hands, and that is a challenge with me, but even when I did get in his mouth some, he did not resist me at all like Monte said he would. Granted, I did not ask much of him, but we did work on the fence some. He wads right up and turns beautifully.

I will try him again tomorrow nite and see where we get. I did really like his level of agreeability, he was perfectly willing for me. He was nice and quiet and pleasant--YAY!

When we were done, I measured him with the stick. He is every bit of 14'2" at this hip, but a hair under 14'1" at the wither. I know he will catch up so I am not at all concerned about that.