It’s never a good sign…

14 November 2010 2 Comments

... when you walk into the barn and everyone comes running over to tell you your horse is nuts.

That was Wednesday. Apparently, the idea that her pasture mate could be fed and turned out while she was left inside blew the Princess’s little mind. Our ride that night ended up being a lot of cantering around and blowing off steam, but I think it’s good for them to have a mental break and just get to go sometimes, so that was ok. She wasn’t bad—just forward.

Then today I walked into the barn and the barn owner asked if I was riding. When I said yes, she laughed and said “Good luck with that.” Ro’s idea of a good time is trying out a crow hop or two, so I was a little concerned when a barrel racer who takes on young and spoiled horses to train found her behavior in the paddock that morning a little… exuberant. It’s like hearing the sheep are plotting war.

And, of course, this was the first lesson with my instructor since the clinic, and I have been raving non stop about what a super star Ro was in the clinic. I put Ro on the lunge line to see what I had—was there a brain in there? Was I going to be trying to pass off her antics as airs above ground?

As it turned out, there was nothing to worry about. I think Ro has figured out the difference between work and play time, because she was all business.

The lesson ended up being just fabulous. She was going along just as fabulously as she did in the clinic. We also worked on canter departs, because it was clear to me after the clinic that we’ve been muddying through those on a wing and a prayer. We identified a couple issues—one being that I’m trying to make my aids too subtle for where she is, so I need to be stronger and more definite. When I do that, she’s great and picks up the lead I want. And good lord—her transitions are fabulous when we’re both together and on the ball.

I’m very, very pleased. We’re planning on a schooling show in December—the October one was nixed because of budget issues with the new saddle purchase. But it’s just as well—she’ll be that much more prepared by December. I’m also a little hopeful that I’ll be so concerned about giving her a good experience her first time out that my show nerves won’t be an issue. I think it’ll help that the score will be a total non-issue next to goals like “stay in the ring” and “don’t spook on top of the judge.”

Horses and Riding, Progress and Training, Training the Horse, Horses I Have Known, Ro

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