Exciting Changes Coming?

A few weeks ago, I blew all of my noble plans and began looking for a horse.  It all started with me talking to the owner of the barn where Bourbon is boarded.  I told her what I was looking for and asked her to keep an eye open for me - I explained that I wasn't in any rush.  She started talking to her boarders and they started talking to their friends and farriers.  One of the boarders said there was a great little half-Arab at one of the local rescues.  I got to meet him this past weekend.  His name is Brian, and his other half is Icelandic.  An odd cross - a 'my daddy went through the fence' baby.  He's 14 years old, 14.2 hands, sorrel with a blaze and three socks.  He's got a dished face, and (unfortunately for him) the Icelandic coat.  He's also a chunky monkey - he's only been trail ridden at a walk since he was broke last year and he hasn't been ridden or worked at all in the last two months.  He's a total sweetheart, and is supposedly gaited.  Hmmm. 

The rescue owner's daughter rode him first.  He is not used to being asked for a trot.  When he would finally trot, he'd stop after a few steps - not slow to a walk but actually stop.  The rescue owner said her son was the person who used to ride him and that the son couldn't sit the trot.  I'm sure it was partially laziness, and probably also that he's never been asked to move out in a small space with uneven footing.  When I hopped on, I realized that he is not used to leg cues...at all.  By the end of the ride, he was starting to remember what I wanted when I squeezed.  He was also walking through his (un-asked for) stops, so progress was made.  All in all, I like him.  He's a sweetheart and sound and I feel like I can work with the rest.  My only cause for concern is his age.  He's not old, but he's older than I wanted if it takes a few years to build bone/tendon for endurance rides.  The rescue has told me that I can take him on a trial basis as a foster.  This weekend, I'm going to visit and see how my saddle fits him and I hope to bring him 'home' on the first of November.  I didn't take any pictures and I'm kicking myself for it now.

The weekend before last, I participated in my first horse show.  I did the W/T Novice English Pleasure and W/T Novice English Equitation - and was the only adult in the class.  It was still fun and I brought home second and fourth place ribbons.  I also learned how to get a horse's brain back when they start losing it.  The only place to warm up close to the ring was small and had people and horses crossing back and forth.  Marie needed to be there because she had someone that was in the next class but Eclipse and I had to warm up.  Eclipse was antsy and it wasn't too long before he was trotting and cantering at 45 degree angles - apparently he's very well-trained.  Anyway, Marie was able to help me get him calmed back down and working...and Eclipse's antics cleared a sizable area for us to continue our warm-up.  I was happy that I kept my head while this was happening.  My normal response is to freeze up and react instead of thinking through the issue.  The entire trip was worth it because of this experience alone.  It was a great day - can't wait to do it with my own horse.