Our first training ride w Stevie out on Trail! (Note about Vid- if you watch the vid but dont read the notes, that is my CAMERA coming off my helmet, not me falling off the horse) It was very exciting, we left here, walked down the road, entered the trail and then came across the big scaffolding w the tarps on it. We were about 3/4 of the past when he became a bit unsettled, and really watching it. He began to look side to side, started to back up, he really wanting to go home, I encouraged him, told him what a good boy he was, and then we continued on. The real issue was when we went under the tree that was really low on the trail, w the recent rains, it was REALLY low on the trail and when Cypress and Devon went thru, it was as if they had instantly disappeared. Suddenly he thought we were ALONE. I again encouraged him and we went, and that is when it happened, the branches scraped my camera right off my helmet! But in the scheme of things that was not a big deal, but Stevie was pretty anxious at that point, I saw his neck trembling. So we sat for a while, being calm, giving praise, but he really gave me the feeling that he would prefer to turn and run home. So I dismounted and decided to end this on a good note. Devon had also gotten off of Cypress, (to retrieve the camera) and practiced her swing up mounting and got on! We were both bareback, so getting back on a horse on trail is a little harder:) So we hung out and Stevie munched grass, we got the camera and just made it really fun for him, instead of pushing him on and hoping that it went ok. My gut said it would not go ok. He is young and athletic and can gallop around trees on trail better than i can ride, so definitely the right decision for both of us. I am old and not so bounce able. What I didnt realize is that there was a person creeping around back there by the scaffolding, Devon said she had told me, (she went first on Cypress) but I didnt hear her, so I am guessing that the scaffolding was ok for Stevie, , then the low trees and all the scraping and getting slapped by the branches, well that was not really nothing he had ever done before, then the person creeping around, that was kind of enough for him. He reached his limit. But I have to say, he gave me plenty of time to hear him, let me know that he was anxious, he did the right thing by letting me know but not having any bad behavior. I listened and I hope that this will build our foundation together and he knows he can trust me. I remember my friend Amy Poss once telling me about a horse on trail if there is something that causes that adrenaline rush, that energy is going to go somewhere, so you better direct it for them. He is only 3, i have ridden him a handful of times for only a few minutes, he has not been off the property in a long time, and I am just so proud of all he gave me today. As we came home the rain poured, the sun was out and Devon Roffler noticed the beautiful rainbow. All back safe and sound, a new adventure and all soaking wet. hahaha!
Posted on: Wed, 01 Oct 2014 20:16:21 +0000
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