Day 48: I have a genius pony. :)

Introduced Ike to all the new stuff today.(with the exeption of the steer head and the lariat)
He crossed the PVC pipe (done something similar)
He wove the cones and circled them as asked (done something similar)
He walked between 2 vertical posts (never done before)
BEST standing he's done was today. I actually walked all the way around while he was asked to "STAND"
(this word actually lets me ask him to keep his feet planted on the pedestal when he steps up and I can walk under him)
He's planting his feet on a strip of mat about 5 inches wide (AWESOME!)
He's backing by his tail (have attempted this in the past, but got my first positive direction today)
He's lowering his head (newly introduced, not a great understanding yet) He'll get there!
He let me mount with a swing up first time today and flexes either direction at liberty.
He's just grasping everything I introduce him to so beautifully! Its awesome!
Standing is what I struggle the most with because when I move he wants to as well. However, he's finally starting to gain an understanding that I want him to park his feet. Also, as previously mentioned, working on him traveling MY pace. Often he does, but he wants to pass me up and enabling him to do that positions him as the leader or doesn't put him in a position to see what I'm doing easily.  Work in progress. I can't constantly nag him or he won't see being with me fun, but at the same time, consistency enables him to better see what the desired behavior is.  If ever he doesn't grasp what I'm asking, I have to look at how I'm asking and how I can be more clear. I have to keep a clear head and thats beautiful training for me. 
He's also letting me grab a foot with a lead rope and reposition it to park him out. I can tap his back feet with my feet and he backs them up to lower his stance. 
I'm doing lots of feet handling and getting him to understand what I want with his feet before I put hobbles on him.  I won't have him wear them long at all, I just want him to trust that anything I do isn't going to harm him even if its unnatural.  He's just absolutely awesome. 
I'm in awe of how readily he takes everything in.  Absolutely LOVE that pony.
I do need to tie him or pen him and play with Amocean though.  Poor guy is being left out! Amocean doesnt do everything as readily or willingly as Ike, but man has he wanted to be part of the action lately. Its cute.