Today Was Beautiful!! Small lunging success!!

Today at the barn was so nice.  This time I had help.  Riley's friend was not available to play today, thank goodness, so she was kind of stuck with Flash and I.  She wanted to do the lunging and since I can't seem to get it right, I let her.  It worked out perfectly.  After about 5 or 10 minutes of walk-trot we attempted the canter.  She was in the center holding the lunge line and I stood on the outside of the circle.  As soon as he came around, we said, "ready, canter" and then kissed.  Nothing happened so SMACK! with the whip.  She continued to kiss while I smacked behind him and he did it!!! Yay!!! We did it a couple of times in one direction and then we turned around and did it the other way.  That way was a little harder but at least we got 2 short little spurts of canter.  He never made it all the way around the circle but that's okay, he picked it up!  I'm so happy right now!!

Just as exciting, he remembered the trotting from yesterday.  We're going to surprise everyone this year in showmanship when he actually does a pattern and trots on queu.  I can't believe how fast he picked that one up.  We tried for so long and with those few taps and shaking of the lead line, he's doing it like it was never a problem.  He even squares up as soon as I stop him.

I wish every day was like today.  Everything went just right and I feel like we've had a huge accomplishment with very little stress involved.