Red Feather is the most athletic horse with whom I have ever shared a round pen. He was once dangerous in all situations and now is only dangerous if something drags along his back legs. (Of course we are working on that and will have that problem solved before he is ridden in the woods again).
Carley and KC are very new students, aged 9 and 12. Last Friday they saw what Red Feather could do in, and to, a round pen when a rope touches his hind legs. He made quite an impression on them (and on some of the panels of the round pen).
The other side of Red Feather's personality is that he is a warm, affectionate horse, provided one stays away from the back legs. Carly and KC did a great job handling a yearling filly earlier in the evening. Before they left I put Red Feather in the ring. Both were afraid and both overcame that fear to the degree that not only did they touch him, Carly even laid her ribs across his back.
Carley and KC are going to be great riders and trainers. They listen, they trust, and they are not easily bored. Red Feather will continue to teach them that they are capable of achieving things that they would never have imagined.
(Here is a picture of Red Feather in the Living Room of the Little House. Note that he is perusing the book case. The sad part is that he has read as many of our horse training books as have most of my teen age riders.)
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