it's the ditch, not the puddle.....

My three newbies have been doing really well. Preacher looks like a new horse, starting to dapple. I love a true mahogany bay that dapples, they just look rich, like fine wood. He is always calm and has no drama. Likes to jump and he is a pleasure. It is a good thing that I really don't have much to say about him, he has done everything right . A friend really wants him so I may not have three newbies after all. Frank, the big plain dark brown, is an old soul. I know he is five but truly, he acts like an old horse. As calm as Preacher, he has done everything that Preacher has. Jumped the same 2'3" bales and logs, goes through the water and ditches, doesn't spook when the deer bounce out. He has a very long stride which is a pleasure to ride. I think he will be a lovely whip horse. Just have to get them all past cows, which I do not have on the farm!
Danny Boy, the pretty chestnut 4 year old that was gelded three weeks ago is doing well. He is definitely a year younger than the other two, still hollers for his friends when he can't see them. Actually he hollers when he can see them, he is just young and enthusiastic. Nobody hollers back. But Bob, his "girlfriend", will nicker occasionally in reassurance. Love the old guy. Danny Boy has gone out alone around the big fields, he even followed my mare, who stayed well in front, but he behaved just fine. However he doesn't like ditches! He's ok in the mud and puddles, which I have plenty of, has crossed the wooden bridge, has jumped the logs. He even is happy
to just plow through the woods like a whip horse. But ditches are a no go. I think he can't understand the up and down of it.   He refused to follow me when I dismounted and tried to lead him through ( this is a a small ditch with a tiny stream of water in it), he refused to follow his buddies through. He was not unruly, just immovable. We had to go through the swamp to catch up and he was fine with that! So yesterday I cleared a path through the woods to a flat tiny stream crossing, probably muddy after yesterday's rain, which puts us on the far side of a ditch that goes back to the barn, which is visible. I am hoping this works. I may get hubby to lead Bob, old faithful, and I may just lead Danny with a chain on his nose. This is pretty standard racetrack persuasion.   I will let you know if it works. Wish me luck.