As Promised...

A few posts ago, I promised some information about the new "man" in my life. He's tall, dark, and handsome...oh, and walks on all fours! So, here he is!

Just look at those big brown eyes!

This is Professor! He is my new Gelding, and I couldn't be happier with him! Last year Richard bought me a Palomino mare I named Liesel. Although hopes were high for her future as a good riding horse for me, it just wasn't meant to be. She is the alpha female wherever she is and was just too ornery for my taste. So, a few months ago, we tried another mare, Shenandoah, who we renamed Ruby. She was much better but I had a scary episode on her (which was pretty much my lack of experience and had little to do with her), and so I just wasn't sure how well I would do on her, either. Those of you with horse experience know, there are just some that fit better than others. You connect with certain horses like you connect with any other pet, a dog or a cat, or whatever. So, when a guy Richard lived with for a while at A&M ended up wanting to sell his former roping horse, we decided to give him a test "drive" and I was hooked immediately!
McHotterson and Professor (McH hates this picture because he thinks it makes The Pro Man look gaunt and uhealthy, but I didn't care...he doesn't look like that in real life)!

Professor is gentle, extremely intelligent and despite being 24 years old, is very agile, and quick on his feet still. He is a bit out of shape, but nothing a little regular riding won't fix. He is the perfect horse for me and I'm just ecstatic. I've gotten more out of riding in the last few weeks than I have since last April when I first started with Liesel. Riding is now what it should be, FUN and I always look forward to going out to get on Professor!

Here is a little sampling of me loping. Notice I am NOT holding on to the saddle horn; that was the first time I had the nerve to do so, and it was so exhilarating! Because he was a roping horse, professor is trained to respond to legs, reins, or voice/mouth commands, and he does all very well.