First Ride on a New Horse

So, I wanted to write a little more about my ride on Sunday. I am taking this as my first real project. Hobbie is an older horse who has really never had good training. The owner told me that he's never had real training and before they bought him, he changed owners too often for him to learn much. So I approached him as pretty much an untrained horse. He is a trail horse and usually is ridden with Western tack and rider. My goal I think is going to be making him a more pleasurable horse to ride, without ruining the fact that he is neck reined usually. My goal is to spend part of our ride focusing on dressage and part of our ride remembering what he is used for by neck reining, for him and me. Considering I do not ride Western and know NOTHING about this, it will take some research and study! YAY! Learning!
Our first ride went well. I promised myself that I would remember I was getting on a horse I knew nothing about because my usual instinct is to get on and ask for a frame. So I made myself relax, just let him get used to my seat for a few laps and then started asking him for some real movememt. He is so...OFF. Not lame, that's not what I mean. He simply has NO rhythm. The owner said, "Oh! He's so bouncy!" And he was, only due to his lack of consistency! OMG! She also said he has some problems constantly throwing his head. To me, he seems totally stressed out about being ridden. We tried calming ourselves, relaxing through his back and consistency through his walk and trot. We still have a LONG way to go, but I was happy to see improvement in one ride, and him listening and actually interested in trying to listen to me. More tomorrow! I don't ride again 'till Friday.

Nice walk today, 2 miles! And I've not over-eaten. Hoping to have a healthy dinner, we'll see, mexican can go either way. I called the university I want to get into today. I really don't like counselors. They tell you one thing and then another.... Even though in the fall they told me I wouldnt be subbmitting a portfolio until I chose a major, apparently I have to submit one before I can take any art classes next semester. The application is due in March and the portfolio is due in April. I was originally told application was due in June and no portfolio for another year or two. Make up your minds!