So....I did a thing..... two things actually

Such a lovely day yesterday! Better enjoy it while we can, supposed to get wet by the weekend. So I am dedicating as much time to Drifter as I can before he gets a few days off.
The first thing :
I am now the sole owner of Drifter. Shayla is working in a show barn and has really found her niche, training horses for the rail and trail classes. She is really enjoying it, and her plans for barrel racing have been put on the back burner. Since that was the plan for Drifter, and also because she can't take him to the place she works,   I offered to buy her out and she accepted. So now I feel more comfortable in pursuing his training myself. I may or may not eventually use him for barrels, but first he will learn all the ranch stuff that I can come up with. Hence the rope work etc. This year will be all about getting him to experience the big ole world and be mannerly about it.

The next thing:
I  had my friend Dave come over and help me with this. I longed Drifter first, then did a little liberty work with him. Then I took him to the fence and worked on getting him to come alongside me as I sat on the fence. I swung my leg up on his back and rubbed him. Then Dave took the leadrope and I slid on and had him lead me around.

Just a short little walk around, enough to see how he handled my weight (bareback). He was pretty chill about it! I won't do much of that until later in the summer. I may put about 20 rides on him later in the year then wait until he is 3 to ride him a little more, no hurry about that but I do need to focus on getting him out more, ponying him from Gussie and just exposing him to the sights and sounds of the big old world so that when I do actually ride him he will take it all in stride.
And again, he was a good boy!