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Trudi the brave
Sep. 1st, 2007 10:27 pmMy horse is an idiot.
Actually, she's kind of smart, which makes her a pain in the butt. She spooked a bit while I was tacking her up outside (I was walking back to the shed to get something), and managed to remove her halter while it was still fastened. Bravo. I put it back on her and went and got what I needed. I put the saddle on. I see her head go up and her weight shift back, and I think, awwwwww....craaaaaaap.... and sure enough, she leans back, thinks "Yeah, I got this" (I actually HEARD the thought go through her head) and breaks the halter. In 3 places.
A lasso round the neck and a snubbing post is starting to look REALLY good at this point.
I squash the urge to beat her (why is this a regular impulse?) and gently walk up to her so that she doesn't go charging off (and doesn't send my saddle into the dirt--I haven't had a chance to fasten the girth yet). I put the bridle on and she stands happily while I finish tacking up.
So today was Trudi's first time "jumping". You see, I use the term loosely because it was really more stepping over (in some cases, barging through) an 18 inch crosspole (which we did several times at a walk). However, Trudi did it with a mystified but not altogether unwilling attitude. "You want me to what now? REALLY?"
I "free jumped" her a bit just leading her along by the halter and having her pop over, and then after I tacked her up I trotted her over a few times. I didn't always manage to grab mane (her mane is pretty short) but I did manage not to hit her in the mouth. Her form was nonexistant but she didn't try too hard to refuse or runout, so I'd call it a success. At any rate it was a chance to mix things up a little.
Actually, she's kind of smart, which makes her a pain in the butt. She spooked a bit while I was tacking her up outside (I was walking back to the shed to get something), and managed to remove her halter while it was still fastened. Bravo. I put it back on her and went and got what I needed. I put the saddle on. I see her head go up and her weight shift back, and I think, awwwwww....craaaaaaap.... and sure enough, she leans back, thinks "Yeah, I got this" (I actually HEARD the thought go through her head) and breaks the halter. In 3 places.
A lasso round the neck and a snubbing post is starting to look REALLY good at this point.
I squash the urge to beat her (why is this a regular impulse?) and gently walk up to her so that she doesn't go charging off (and doesn't send my saddle into the dirt--I haven't had a chance to fasten the girth yet). I put the bridle on and she stands happily while I finish tacking up.
So today was Trudi's first time "jumping". You see, I use the term loosely because it was really more stepping over (in some cases, barging through) an 18 inch crosspole (which we did several times at a walk). However, Trudi did it with a mystified but not altogether unwilling attitude. "You want me to what now? REALLY?"
I "free jumped" her a bit just leading her along by the halter and having her pop over, and then after I tacked her up I trotted her over a few times. I didn't always manage to grab mane (her mane is pretty short) but I did manage not to hit her in the mouth. Her form was nonexistant but she didn't try too hard to refuse or runout, so I'd call it a success. At any rate it was a chance to mix things up a little.
