I am just so proud of my baby that I have to share some photos with you all.  Talea started her training with Rose on April 7th - here is some of her story in pictures.

April 15th - ground driving

April 22nd - prep to mounting - Talea was 'worried' about Rose just lifting her leg towards the stirrup - a few minutes of this activity soon put an end to that worry

April 26th - Linda (Rose's mother) getting in the first ride without being led

May 6th - good manners - Talea stands perfectly still for mounting

May 10th - nice & calm at the canter

May 10th - one of Rose's students giving Talea a tryout

May 13th - pretty good progress, huh?

May 13th - getting more balanced at the canter

May 17th - making a big effort at leg yielding

May 17th - more lateral work

May 17th - and tada ! me on Talea (please don't critique me - I was too bloody nervous to even think about form, but I was ecstatic about my first ride on my baby !!!)

So there you have it - I hope that I haven't overwhelmed you all with all too many pics.

Talea will continue her training with Rose for another 5 weeks - during that time she will also go to two small local shows ......... am I an excited horse mom or what ?!?! 

Congrats!  She looks like she is doing awesome and that canter looks like fun.  Not to mention she is looking wonderful herself.  You have every right to be a proud horse mom! 

Very nice progress and what a beautiful horse you have!! Good job and good luck to the two of you :)

Is Talea three or four this year? I'm trying to remember, but can't. She is quite the cutie!! Congrats on all of her progress (kind of blow's Nova's "I finally figured out I can walk by myself around the arena and do things that could loosely be called circles" out of the water ;)). I suppose this means I have to get my butt out on him and really start working him!

Great photos! She's a very nice looking horse!!! Congrats, very happy for you! :)

And Nova, I hear ya... Calista has yet to figure out she CAN go when I ask without another horse around... of course, I haven't ridden her in a couple months.... and likely won't for awhile, we're breaking records at 110 degrees today, 111 tomarrow! :(

Jessi

 I am so glad to hear that she is making good progress. She is a beautiful horse and she looks like fun to ride. You should be a very proud mom. Good Luck at the horse shows. Let us know how she does!

Great looking horse - sure seems she is coming along nicely!!  Bet you can't wait to get her home! 

 Thanks for all the great comments everyone !!.

I am so pleased with Talea's progress - I guess it's a reall bonus that her trainer LOVES Talea too 

Nova, Talea is 3 - she was born here on our farm March 11/05  

WOW! You two look great! Looks like your trainer has done a great job after another 5 weeks and the show experience - you two should be good to go!

Congrats!!!! Great job! 

Mouse - Talea looks great. I love how she looks relaxed, soft and supple. You can see that she is really listening to the trainer. ( just check out those ears.) You really have a great trainer and it's nice to see that she has competent students riding her too. This way she is getting used to different riders. And getting show experience to boot, can't beat that.

Wow, I am really impressed!  You have a wonderful triner and a smart, calm horse.  She has come so far, so fast.  congrats!

That was going to be my guess that she was three. I kept thinking she was the same age as Nova. Again, super big congrats on how well she's doing! Maybe in a few years Nova and I will catch up to ya. ;)

Jessi - Lol! Nova was horrible about moving out on his own. But then it sort of clicked, and now we can walk all over the arena while another horse is lunging and my mom is riding (walk/trot) around us, past us, etc. But I still need my whip as encouragement! Such a lazy boy he is.

I'm so happy for you Mouse!  Talia must be exceptional and your Trainer must be outstanding for Talia to have advanced so far so quickly!  You must be ecstatic, as you well should be!  I would brag too!!!  hehehehe