Ted's Big Day

Today was a busy day for all of us here in Aiken, and the horses were no exception. We started the day out with taking Theodore over to my friend Courtney Coopers so she could have a look at him. Since Mary and I had never taken Ted anywhere we weren't too sure what to expect. Ted's owner, Becky, had told me that she took him places all the time so he would be used to arriving somewhere new. He stepped off the trailer at Full Gallop (the farm where Courtney is stabled while in Aiken, and incidentally the site of several rated horse trials) and took everything in stride from start to finish.

I know I have been raving about this horse and how he has improved over the last few weeks, but this was a real test. The ring was busy and filled with "scary" spooks, like liverpools, brick flower boxes, narrows and about half a dozen horses and dogs going around. Ted walked in and never put a foot wrong. He flatted beautifully, relaxed and elastic, and then jumped the best yet. We started with a trot fence and then worked up over a smallish oxer, finishing over the small vertical box painted like stones. He was suuuuper brave, and actually started drawing me to the jumps. I am continually impressed by this horse and his willingness to try to please me. He wants to be a good boy and told how wonderful he is. He loves feeling important and like he is the best thing since sliced bread. It seems that the more we tell him how great he is, the greater he actually becomes!

So, not only is he super fancy on the flat, but he has a jump that absolutely rockets off the ground. Check out the air between him and the jumps set to about 2'6 and 2'9". As one of my friends said about my chestnut horse, "he wants bigger jumpy jumps"! I have to admit it has taken me some time to figure out how to not get jumped out of the tack (I thought Z had a big jump!) and get him to use his body more efficiently. I think its finally paying off though, as he had his best day ever.

This is a super special horse and I would love to keep him for myself to compete and see how far he can go. This is a great opportunity for someone who wants to be involved in the sport with a horse that has the makings to go far in the dressage arena or possibly eventing. Thanks to Becky Salinger, Ted's owner, for allowing him to come down to Aiken with me (and Jessica Hart for her co-sponsorship)so that I could spend some time figuring him out and also hopefully find an investor/sponsor to assist in his competitive career.

I think that if Ted has anything to say about it, he is just beginning to show us what he is made of!