New Warhorse

I'm now in the process of training a new Warhorse, "Wilderness Woodsman", AKA Woody. He's a Half-Quarterhorse,/Quarter Percheron/Quarter Belgian Bay Gelding, nine years old and LARGE. Lucky for me, so is Twister so all of Twister's old tack fits Woody with only a few notches having to be let out! We traveled south to LA on the weekend of the 16th-17th and picked him up from Natalie Wooldridge, who had facilitated his move from Texas. He's been in a pasture for a year so is a tad lazy, but he's a wonderful "Bombproof" horse, and is taking to Cavalry Drill, and even Lance work with a will. This past weekend I introduced him to the Quintain (The Shield-on-a-swinging-Arm as seen in movies) that you ride past and hit with a lance, as you would with an opponent. He took to it like a duck to water, and soon after his introduction we were charging it and smacking it around like a top. Taxi of course has been there for the training, helping to ensure that Woody knows what he is supposed to do (such as in Cavalry Drill, Taxi is helping by being the "old soldier" showing Woody the ropes). Both "Squire Bob" and friend Morgan Blanchard (down from Reno to relax some) have been lending a hand with this, riding Taxi and working the Quintain. It's great!