Kitari
Aug. 6, 2009, 10:59 PM
Ready... Set... HO!
Every now and then you have a great ride, everything just seems to go like it should with either minor or even no hitches to it at all. it can be from anything from a show, to a hinky dink 5 minutes being lead around on a pony. You never know when this perfect ride will come only that when it happens you know it beyond a doubt.
I had such a ride today on Red. It went beautifully. Started off easy enough caught her, saddled her, bridled her, got on and headed out. I decided today to just skip the schooling and go for a trail ride. No catches for her like having to trot this many circles first or anything, we just headed out.
We went into the big hay field and I let her pick her route as we went along, so long as some progress was made I didnt feel like directing her. As we went along we watched the road side drama. A semi let loose its horn as well as a swearfest at the vehicle turning infront of him, kids zooming along on mules and other vehicles. We just went along, a few cars honked here and there, red continued on, didnt bat an eye. We went on for the full half mile stretch and then I turned her around to start back in the direction of home.
Like usual it didnt phase her, I love how independant she is while riding, she doesnt feel the need to hurry on home, especially home isnt any fun, its work darn it. We went close to the edge near the cow pastures. It was the first time over there, i tried before to stay away from there because inevitably something or somethings i should say bolt for the skies when a rider passes either on a horse or a mule, and sure enough without fail we flushed not one, not two, not even three, but at least 5-8 different birds. She twitched on the first flush then after that nothing, didnt even bat an eye at them bursting out infront or near her.
Pop
Pop
Pop
Distantly we heard those sounds, curious but not alarmed we went on, what could be making those noises? It shounded like a distant gun. Red had perked up at the sounds which was suprising, considering where she came from she shouldnt of even registered the sounds muched less perked up to them. We cross the hayfield thresh hold and the kids zoom by again, from the yells, playing cops and robbers, I doubt they even saw us as they went on by. We get maybe maybe at most 10 feet from the hedges when it happened again on up close.
POP
Red Bolted.
They were Popping fake gun caps in their game. And without much though as she scooted her butt, i sat back, applied light rein pressure and said "HO" and she stopped. Dead. Didnt move a mucle, From a bolt to dead stopped I about bursted with glee and down right pride. While she was scared enough to bolt in the direction of home no less, she stopped the moment I commanded her to. No hesitation, no what ifs, just Stopped. Every horse should be able to do this, yet even so I cannot boast this with my main trail mount Poco.
But I praised her alot and she preened with glee. Caps continued to be popped behind us yet with me being calm and ignoring them, she stopped twitching and finally just relaxed and ignored them. She listened to me, but more importantly she trusted me enough to where if I said dont worry about it with the way I was riding she didnt worry about it.
We made it home with no more issues, I removed her tack and she started making funny faces and lipping my hair before once again following me into the barn then out again and into the pasture.
She really is one of a kind. And she is only 3 years old. I cant wait to see how she matures.
Every now and then you have a great ride, everything just seems to go like it should with either minor or even no hitches to it at all. it can be from anything from a show, to a hinky dink 5 minutes being lead around on a pony. You never know when this perfect ride will come only that when it happens you know it beyond a doubt.
I had such a ride today on Red. It went beautifully. Started off easy enough caught her, saddled her, bridled her, got on and headed out. I decided today to just skip the schooling and go for a trail ride. No catches for her like having to trot this many circles first or anything, we just headed out.
We went into the big hay field and I let her pick her route as we went along, so long as some progress was made I didnt feel like directing her. As we went along we watched the road side drama. A semi let loose its horn as well as a swearfest at the vehicle turning infront of him, kids zooming along on mules and other vehicles. We just went along, a few cars honked here and there, red continued on, didnt bat an eye. We went on for the full half mile stretch and then I turned her around to start back in the direction of home.
Like usual it didnt phase her, I love how independant she is while riding, she doesnt feel the need to hurry on home, especially home isnt any fun, its work darn it. We went close to the edge near the cow pastures. It was the first time over there, i tried before to stay away from there because inevitably something or somethings i should say bolt for the skies when a rider passes either on a horse or a mule, and sure enough without fail we flushed not one, not two, not even three, but at least 5-8 different birds. She twitched on the first flush then after that nothing, didnt even bat an eye at them bursting out infront or near her.
Pop
Pop
Pop
Distantly we heard those sounds, curious but not alarmed we went on, what could be making those noises? It shounded like a distant gun. Red had perked up at the sounds which was suprising, considering where she came from she shouldnt of even registered the sounds muched less perked up to them. We cross the hayfield thresh hold and the kids zoom by again, from the yells, playing cops and robbers, I doubt they even saw us as they went on by. We get maybe maybe at most 10 feet from the hedges when it happened again on up close.
POP
Red Bolted.
They were Popping fake gun caps in their game. And without much though as she scooted her butt, i sat back, applied light rein pressure and said "HO" and she stopped. Dead. Didnt move a mucle, From a bolt to dead stopped I about bursted with glee and down right pride. While she was scared enough to bolt in the direction of home no less, she stopped the moment I commanded her to. No hesitation, no what ifs, just Stopped. Every horse should be able to do this, yet even so I cannot boast this with my main trail mount Poco.
But I praised her alot and she preened with glee. Caps continued to be popped behind us yet with me being calm and ignoring them, she stopped twitching and finally just relaxed and ignored them. She listened to me, but more importantly she trusted me enough to where if I said dont worry about it with the way I was riding she didnt worry about it.
We made it home with no more issues, I removed her tack and she started making funny faces and lipping my hair before once again following me into the barn then out again and into the pasture.
She really is one of a kind. And she is only 3 years old. I cant wait to see how she matures.