One hot little Arab

Funny creatures are horses. Routines are very important. The norm is their preference. Herd animals prefering other horses to being alone.

However, what if riding with other horses, even in a familiar place, is not the norm? That was our ride yesterday. Additionally, it was in the evening when he's notoriously silly - I attribute it to deer and dinner time when we're alone. It was also cooler, slightly windy.

I finally caught up with a girl at the barn ~9 years my junior and senior in high school (I feel old after talking/riding with these girls... subject matter changes so much with age...) who I like and her Appy mare is a doll - we'll call the girl 'P'. Well, when I get there another girl who is ~10 years my junior, and junior in high school is there who owns a palomino Anglo-Arab gelding ,we'll call her 'A', who decides to join us.

Now, Gator and I always ride solo. We have not had a trail buddy for more than a lap around the hay field near the barn... ever. To be honest, despite enjoying it he hadn't been trailed that much before me and only a couple times with another horse.

'P' and her Appy, I noticed when we got to our barn, are quite sane and laid back. 'P' is pretty mature for her age. She sat with me the day waiting for the vet the day of the trailer incident. Her mare is pretty easy going, witha smidge of Appytude. They usually trail alone. She's an ex trail string horse and lower in the mare herd pecking order. I knew she and Gator would be a good pairing.

Now, 'A' is a sweetie but mature is not a word I would use to describe her. I just get a feeling from her gelding that he tolerates her - and well - but ... she really seems like a kid. He is an ex-schoolie and a pretty good boy. He's a bit higher in the gelding herd than Gator, but they got along decently well from the get-go.

Anyways, we warm up in the ring together - to let Gator and Appy mare 'meet'. They were pretty complacent besides some slightly pinned ears.

'P' was having trouble keeping her mare listening - as in she wasn't interested in trotting and wanted to canter instead. 'P' impressed me with her patience and how she handled it. Always brought her back to a walk, calmly and asked for the upward transition, back down if she didn't listen.

'A' blew around at a canter between conversations with us at a walk. Gator prefered to give everyone plenty of room, occasionally ducking in behind Appy mare.

This was all a great foreshadowing of the ride to come.

We hit the trail at a walk. Gator twice, cut off the gelding to get in the back of our little herd. Interesting. He's not a lead trail horse by choice. Good to know.

We all (though 'P' and I reluctantly agreed) to canter at one point. Gator overtook the gelding, when he, I suppose, decided that was a bad idea and veered off into the hay field. Got him slowed, back on track asked to canter. Dead ass hand gallop to catch up (which I sat deep to avoid... half halts ignored). Starting a fight which continued for, oh, most of the rest of the ride.

Twice 'A' cantered off after that without telling 'P' and I. Super. Thanks sweetie.

Appy mare was being rather strong too, though was much more quick to stop, though tossing her head and fighting a bit. This is while I'm fighting Gator to whoa, cursing at him a lot by then and sparking much frustration. Appy mare and 'P' parked until Appy mare was 100% settled. Standing was not Gator's game either once we managed to pull it together to get back to them, so we fought a bit over that too.

Who owns the dancey prancey Arab? That'd be me. All the while 'A' is chattering cluelessly.

A went back to the ring to jump after proclaming we'd been riding a whole hour. She'd never been on a horse for that long in one ride before! No kidding?

'P' and I went back down the dirt road at a walk again as both were still being a bit silly. Appy mare and Gator went along pretty well - a little jiggy on the way back to the barn when we first turned around but better. It was dinner time afterall. Of all things, they know that. It wasn't forgiven and Gator did listen much better with just Appy mare. He was also less reluctant to be in front of her.

The BO asked if we had a good ride. Immediately, 'P' and my eyes met down the barn aisle. I smiled and half heartedly said it was alright. 'A' chimed in and said she'd had SO much fun!

Of course she did. She also can't wait to go back out with us again sometime... *sigh*


My first reaction to the ride? God do I hate being in his mouth and I was yesterday. Hate, hate, hate it. But he has to stop when I tell him so, right? Ask, Tell, MAKE them listen. Though, whoa means whoa no matter the gait, no matter the monster. It can be life or death on the trail if he doesn't listen to me. Of course it wasn't last night but things happen. He HAS to listen to a whoa no matter the company. Though one in our group was obviously problematic - but that happens. Even if she shouldn't have cantered off without warning. Twice.

I think of him first. Always. I don't think anyone could deny that. This isn't a matter of me 'listening' to figure out what is bothering my poor sweet baby boy. This is him running through me, because he decides to. This is a respect issue. This is an attention issue.

We are going to work on those. A lot. In the ring. On the trail. Alone and with P. Tehre are many up and down transitions in our future.

Rating and breaks have been an issue that I think I've allowed him to exploit on the trail as I was pretty timid and scared when I started riding him. This is the reason his old owner would say he's not a kids horse. He can get strong, even in the ring, though not quite like this. Some days when I just want him worked I am a bit complacent when he wants to go, instead of making him listen and rate, I let him go even if I'd be happier at a less excuberant trot. I'm not anymore. I need to always be clear and mean it. Boundaries.

Now... what to do when 'A' asks to go for a ride again...


(I also figured out last night he's getting about twice the amount of grain what I want him to... Might have something to do with his a-go-go attitude of late. Told the BO this a.m. to half that grain. NOW. No wonder his weight loss had tapered off... dude, he can live on air!)