I’m jumping on this blog-hop wagon (thanks to Life of Riley for the idea!) because progress has been on my mind a lot recently. We’re going through one of those annoying phases where it seems like we are going backwards a bit (mostly related to the whole getting-crazy-deep-distances issue, and my sudden intimidation of both airy fences and fences with crap loads of filler – sidenote: maybe I’m just a chicken shit?)… anyways.
I keep telling myself, this is just another phase, and just like in the past we’ll come out of it the other side and be better than before. Looking back on where we’ve been is one way to assure myself of this. So here’s our transformation post, before and after Fosters!
Foster:
Foster Jan 2011 in his sales pic
April 2012
May 2014
Dressage (trotting):
Feb. 2011
Nov. 2012
April 2014
Dressage (canter):
Feb. 2011
Nov. 2012
April 2014
Showjumping:
June 2012
Sept 2013
Dec. 2013
Cross Country:
Feb 2012 – first XC school
Feb 2012
Oct. 2012
August 2013
November 2013
April 2014
So that’s it. 3 and a half years of ups and downs, but a lot of progress when I look at the first and last pictures in each set. Our bond has definitely grown, and he’s been able to give me confidence that I could never have in my past horses. I’m sure we’ll get through this latest phase and be moving forward again soon!
Red on the Right 
What a difference in the first and last pictures (like you said)!!
Another one with a huge difference!
Cool transformation! He’s so handsome 🙂
Aww, thanks! 😀
Thats great!
those april 2014 dressage pics are awesome – shows a huge difference! and he looks like a rock star over those big fences 🙂
Thanks! And yeah, Foster doesn’t care too much if it’s under 2’9″, it takes a bit more to impress him! 😀
This is so neat to see the comparison! The dressage pictures show such vast improvement. So much more elevation and impulsion. The big jumps are fun too. Way to go!
I think those, and *my* position over fences (going from super-defensive to somewhat tolerable), is what makes me happiest!
For some reason I didn’t realize you’ve had him for that long! The dressage work especially is amazing progress.
Time flies when you are having fun! I can’t believe he’s 7 already!
Foster really shines out on XC! He looks soooo good!!
Thanks! That is probably where I see the most change on his part- he used to be squirrely to almost everything (like those itty-bitty logs in the first pic!), and he’s become SO much more confident… It’s the best feeling!
you know I always adore his jump form… and woo look at that canter in that 2014 pic!! @_@