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Last night was the longest night of my life! I was awake before the alarm went off. My stomach was doing somersaults, I felt sick, nervous, unsure. I was on my way to see the beautiful Gillis again!

We arrived early and waited with anticipation. Finally Gillis turned up and I was able to see how well he travelled in the float and unloaded. He happily came out and stood tied to the float as he was tacked up. I rode him from the beginning this time. He seemed to have a spring in his step and was a little 'looky'. So we put him to work. Within half a 20m circle he started to concentrate on the job at hand. His work ethic is amazing.

I got the walk forward, round and loose so we had a fiddle with leg yielding, shoulder in, renvers. If I asked correctly it was a breeze, if I didn't, nothing happened! I found him a lot easier to get going this time and felt that I didn't have to 'ask' as much to keep him going. The trot work was better and I was able to get him working in a nice frame quicker. I did quite a few walk trot transitions and found this really helped get him up and going and motivated.

The canter was harder to keep this time and I found it really strung out. I tried to do a few across the diagonal and change the canter at 'X'. This was hilarious. The transition down to trot was huge and threw me around that much I couldn't get my seat back to ask for the other canter lead and I was laughing too much to ask as well!!!!!!!

At the end of the ride I took him for a walk around a grassed area and to areas that he hadn't seen before. He took it all in his stride. I gave him a warm hose down, cuddle and helped get him ready to go back on the float. I was able to load him onto the float which he did with ease.

The long drive home was spent discussing do we or don't we add another addition to our family. Weighing up all the pros and cons. Gillis ticks just about every box I have, except for the cosmetic things which really aren't that important. He has:
Great temperament
Solid foundations
School master
Good education level
Quiet
Rhythmical in his paces
Great manners
He can help me move forward with my riding by helping me ride correctly
Sound? - Only a vet check will determine this

So I have made the decision to buy Gillis, pending vet check. After about 6.5 long years of looking, I have made a decision. So fingers crossed he passes the vet check. I have confidence that he will. I only have one concern and that is on both his front knees there is a small soft movable lump.

So soon hopefully Gillis will be on his way to his new home!!!!!