Crandall is a four year old Percheron TB cross.  He is to be a trail horse for Dr. Lynn Johnson.  I have done a lot of driving in the long lines and round pen work with him before riding.  He is going over low jumps and cavaletties to get an idea of timing and space.  It took him awhile to know how big he is and how to navigate trees and obstacles.  He is 17h and still growing!  He is a smooth ride, and I will start him on the trails as soon as the weather improves.  He wears an oversized bridle and a size 6 bit.  Crandall is a gentle boy -- he ties quietly, steps up to whatever you need to mount from and waits for me to tell him when to walk on.  I need to learn how to teach him to lay down to be mounted!

I'm teaching him to pick me up where I'm on the fence with the training stick.

On him for the first time, riding in the round pen.

Kneeling on him to get him ready
to let me slide off his neck as he's
too big to dismount in the usual way.

First trail ride

   
Crandall is reading the trail map at the park to see if we are on the correct trail. 


Crandall has to wait to eat until he listens to me.  He did a great job on his first trail ride and did a total of eight miles!

It took a few tries for Crandall to realize where he ended and the bridge ended.  Now he can go up and stand without falling off

Transition from canter to trot.

Crandall learning to pray.

A car is coming, and here I'm telling him its "ok"

Here Crandall learns the one-rein stop.

Crandall has learned to walk, trot and canter while rounded.  He is still growing and is an even 17h!  He has mastered all the obstacles in the arena and is doing great on the wooded trails.

He is in a mullen mouth pelham bit with chin strap for the first time in this picture.  He is going nicely under saddle, can sidepass left and right, do a full circle on the hind quarters moving his front around in both directions, and do full circles moving the hind quarters around the front.  Dr. Johnson and her husband came out and took pictures of their big guy.  They are very pleased with his ability.  Crandall will get his first set of shoes this week.  The rocky trails are hard on his big flat feet.

Dr. Lynnie Johnson rides Crandall for the first time in the round pen bareback and in a rope halter.  Judie has been working with Crandall to be a safe and sane trail horse.  He is a good guy.  Upper left - Scooter Johnson on Crandall; Upper right - Judie, Crandall and Dr. Johnson.

Crandall is so big, Santa has crashed into him!