she thought it was pretty romantic the way the two of them just hopped on the horse bareback together.
"it's okay, i know what you're going thru" he said, as jill took one of the first temper tantrums she had ever had-on-a-horse in whole life. the beast had tried to mow her over and drag her back to the barn but she had run with him and managed eventually to stop him with her whole body weight, verbal commands and huge yanks on the lungeline attached to his bit.
she'd tried to call it a day (training wise) when she successfully got the brute back and forth to the round pen where they'd been headed in the first place, twice, with out getting dragged around and stood stock still against her will with or kicked or bit or whatEVER.
the boss's boyfriend wouldn't let it go at that however...
she started wearing her helmet around that horse after that.
and they made fun of her.
months and months later she found out the last 5 groom/working students HAD been dragged to the barn by him and refused to have anything to do with him afterwards.
2007-11-09
2007-10-20
Moments on Mars
"it's funny how the sheep and giant, furry lama flocking to the fence didn't freak him at all, but he almost ditched me spooking at a tree branch lying on the edge of the field" Jill said, returning from the give-the-talented-school-pony-a-change-of-scenery-ride. "He took off on me once too, so that's good right?" she added, to the surprise of the working students. "Afterall, the idea is to get him going forward!"
*
the next day, it took several minutes to get past the parked horse trailer. and, in general, he was much spookier than the day before... when jill got back to the barn she survey everyone
is it possible that the scent of nearby lambs and lamas were actually comforting him the day before???
*
the next day, it took several minutes to get past the parked horse trailer. and, in general, he was much spookier than the day before... when jill got back to the barn she survey everyone
is it possible that the scent of nearby lambs and lamas were actually comforting him the day before???
2007-09-27
Farah-my-favourite
"we'll make room for you" jill said, cantering past the entrance to the sandring and then changing the location of her small circle in front of her teacher. a longstanding student and boarder was standing there waiting to enter.
"don't worry, i'm watching and learning" replied the next rider, to jill's delight. they were leg yeilding around the top part of the circle at a walk and then striking off into canter for the rest of the figure and then making another transition back to walk within the 15meters, in order to leg yeild some more. it was an interesting and effective exercise she'd never tried before and was a result of her request to the teacher to give the school horse a "tune up" since she'd been ignoring the leg of the students in classed jill'd been teaching that week. jill enjoyed the ride and was also proud when the teacher said as she was leaving how well she'd ridden.
maybe she wasn't as rusty as she thought. and, her pony friend had such a good work ethic too!
they began and ended their ride playing tag with the fearless 4 year old, including opening and closing gates and barriers into the arena. the horse was so brave, agile, responsive AND sensible, the games were just great!!
**
the other day i had a private lesson on farah. we worked on forward (even though she's a speedster) around and around the sandring in every gait for nearly a half hour; then we jumped a couple poles in a really rhythmical and relaxed way.the next time we went out, it was a practice ride after the b-day party.
since the hay in the big, back field had just been cut, we had a little handgallop along one side, trotting the rest in each direction. then we trotted around the manure pile field treeline, and trotted around the shed paddock twice.
then when we joined the group lesson yesterday SHE WAS TOTALLY AWESOME. so soft and quiet and collecting!
5.7 pg 41 Dressage in Harmony
The Good Ride Danger
When you have a good ride one day, it is wonderful, but it also very dangerous. On the next day, as soon as you mount, you tell yourself, "I hope it will be as good as yesterday..." And the rider expects the same performance of the horse immediately. If the rider tries to get the feeling he had yesterday right away, then he will start to get tight. I cannot expect to start my search for a butterfly with him already in the net! I have to wait for him." etc etc.
"don't worry, i'm watching and learning" replied the next rider, to jill's delight. they were leg yeilding around the top part of the circle at a walk and then striking off into canter for the rest of the figure and then making another transition back to walk within the 15meters, in order to leg yeild some more. it was an interesting and effective exercise she'd never tried before and was a result of her request to the teacher to give the school horse a "tune up" since she'd been ignoring the leg of the students in classed jill'd been teaching that week. jill enjoyed the ride and was also proud when the teacher said as she was leaving how well she'd ridden.
maybe she wasn't as rusty as she thought. and, her pony friend had such a good work ethic too!
they began and ended their ride playing tag with the fearless 4 year old, including opening and closing gates and barriers into the arena. the horse was so brave, agile, responsive AND sensible, the games were just great!!
**
the other day i had a private lesson on farah. we worked on forward (even though she's a speedster) around and around the sandring in every gait for nearly a half hour; then we jumped a couple poles in a really rhythmical and relaxed way.the next time we went out, it was a practice ride after the b-day party.
since the hay in the big, back field had just been cut, we had a little handgallop along one side, trotting the rest in each direction. then we trotted around the manure pile field treeline, and trotted around the shed paddock twice.
then when we joined the group lesson yesterday SHE WAS TOTALLY AWESOME. so soft and quiet and collecting!
5.7 pg 41 Dressage in Harmony
The Good Ride Danger
When you have a good ride one day, it is wonderful, but it also very dangerous. On the next day, as soon as you mount, you tell yourself, "I hope it will be as good as yesterday..." And the rider expects the same performance of the horse immediately. If the rider tries to get the feeling he had yesterday right away, then he will start to get tight. I cannot expect to start my search for a butterfly with him already in the net! I have to wait for him." etc etc.
2007-07-08
Tomorrow
it was nice to be able to bring two of them in together. jill liked riding at a place where she wasn't overly supervised, though she wished for their sake they'd asked her to sign a waiver. too bad she couldn't seem to make a living giving out just that sort of advice.
her ponies were agreeable about it, despite all the awkwardness of not know how the gate worked or any kind of protocol for going through the door. it was nice to see them out together, though she could see from the old guy's nervousness that the little guy was tough.
tomorrow she would have to remember to put the saddle in the car, and a lunch. before going off to do the morning chores. she thought she would just muck in her riding pants, so as to save time.
*
"i know something that will interest you" said the child. "my mother's favourite animal is a horse." jill was touched that the child had learned this much about her, and delighted when the little one asked if she wanted her to save her any bacon...
*
it was jill's mom's name as owner on the stall door. jill's uncle had woodburned the sign for them. coseka in script.
her ponies were agreeable about it, despite all the awkwardness of not know how the gate worked or any kind of protocol for going through the door. it was nice to see them out together, though she could see from the old guy's nervousness that the little guy was tough.
tomorrow she would have to remember to put the saddle in the car, and a lunch. before going off to do the morning chores. she thought she would just muck in her riding pants, so as to save time.
*
"i know something that will interest you" said the child. "my mother's favourite animal is a horse." jill was touched that the child had learned this much about her, and delighted when the little one asked if she wanted her to save her any bacon...
*
it was jill's mom's name as owner on the stall door. jill's uncle had woodburned the sign for them. coseka in script.
2007-06-28
Flirt Flash
"I can ride the spookers and the bolters and the rearers and the quitters" Jill said confidently, "but the buckers, well they just have to think about it and I'm flying through the air."
"You're brave" the harness racer'd said, scaring her in fact, because if he thought that she must be missing something. But, she wan not missing the fact he was bringing her an ice cap as a super surprise on such a hot day.
"You can see through those pants when the sun's behind you" he said, teasing and changing the subject. She was actually wearing cream coloured linen pants to muck out the stall that day. They were hand-me-downs from movie star cousins that she knew she'd never wear outside of the barn, but they were so cool, and felt so comfortable and it was so hot...
"I switched from polka dot underwear to a solid colour this morning in case that happened" Jill retorted, acting less mortified than she actually was...now she tried changing the subject,
"The last time I rode Farah she jumped a big rock in our path like it was a real obstacle. Isn't that cute? Doesn't that sound like a pony that WANTS to go cross?"
*
Later the same day, Jill was in the barn alone, tackling yet another disgusting corner of the standardbred breeding farm buildings. Cobwebs covered the tack on the hooks on the wall, and as she discovered more tack in the dusty piles on the floor, she just added the bits to the hanging mess, concentrating on "sorting" for the time being. Just to cobweb and sweep with things up of the floor and flat surfaces would be a huge improvement. She laughed out loud to find a bar of saddle soap on a shelf she was clearing, and Jim peeked around the corner of the doorway, surprising her with his presence, and his quizzical expression... "As if we need THIS around here" she showed him the unopened box.
They also had a quick conversation about the whiskey bottle she'd found back there, and flirted in their way as she continued her dirty work and he harnessed his (devil) pony. When the boss came in the barn Jim said, "Jill's been drinking in the barn again" and Jill shrieked and turned to see the boss's face as she told Jim to SHUT UP.
The boss laughed and then said to Jill, "EW, your face is dirty."
Jill shrugged and brought the inside of her t-shirt up to her face to wipe it. As she smeared it around her gritty grimy skin, she felt wet around her nose. Ick, was this a snotty, messy nose? EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEW. Gross. She was grossed out and it was her own mess. Not to mention, it was mortifiying. And, in front of Jim of all people? In a way she wanted to die of shame but on the other hand, she tried to think "well, what's wrong with a dose of real life in a romance anyway?" Ug.
"You're brave" the harness racer'd said, scaring her in fact, because if he thought that she must be missing something. But, she wan not missing the fact he was bringing her an ice cap as a super surprise on such a hot day.
"You can see through those pants when the sun's behind you" he said, teasing and changing the subject. She was actually wearing cream coloured linen pants to muck out the stall that day. They were hand-me-downs from movie star cousins that she knew she'd never wear outside of the barn, but they were so cool, and felt so comfortable and it was so hot...
"I switched from polka dot underwear to a solid colour this morning in case that happened" Jill retorted, acting less mortified than she actually was...now she tried changing the subject,
"The last time I rode Farah she jumped a big rock in our path like it was a real obstacle. Isn't that cute? Doesn't that sound like a pony that WANTS to go cross?"
*
Later the same day, Jill was in the barn alone, tackling yet another disgusting corner of the standardbred breeding farm buildings. Cobwebs covered the tack on the hooks on the wall, and as she discovered more tack in the dusty piles on the floor, she just added the bits to the hanging mess, concentrating on "sorting" for the time being. Just to cobweb and sweep with things up of the floor and flat surfaces would be a huge improvement. She laughed out loud to find a bar of saddle soap on a shelf she was clearing, and Jim peeked around the corner of the doorway, surprising her with his presence, and his quizzical expression... "As if we need THIS around here" she showed him the unopened box.
They also had a quick conversation about the whiskey bottle she'd found back there, and flirted in their way as she continued her dirty work and he harnessed his (devil) pony. When the boss came in the barn Jim said, "Jill's been drinking in the barn again" and Jill shrieked and turned to see the boss's face as she told Jim to SHUT UP.
The boss laughed and then said to Jill, "EW, your face is dirty."
Jill shrugged and brought the inside of her t-shirt up to her face to wipe it. As she smeared it around her gritty grimy skin, she felt wet around her nose. Ick, was this a snotty, messy nose? EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEW. Gross. She was grossed out and it was her own mess. Not to mention, it was mortifiying. And, in front of Jim of all people? In a way she wanted to die of shame but on the other hand, she tried to think "well, what's wrong with a dose of real life in a romance anyway?" Ug.
2007-06-12
Free Fun
Was Jim joking when he said he didn't like to waste the water, or pollute the environment with the extra shampoo and so only washed his hair once a week?
"we have no preference here" said the large animal vet, to Jill, about the radio. She was thrilled to acknowledge she could put it on whatever station she'd enjoy! And, the small animal vet stocked the fridge with the pop/beverage of her preference... while the other (farrier) brother did his best to make her laugh and lift the heavy things. And, they were a family of SUCH gifted whistlers, Jill didn't even have the words!
*
Farah and I disturbed SOOOOOOOOO many dragonflies today, with our trot round the big feild in two point. my legs hurt today so it MUST have been good for us!
The day after my pony spooked at a butterfly, two huge ugly turkey vultures swooped down from a dead tree we were walking past and she didn’t even flinch (despite the fact that her rider even had a scared vibe)!
Our last trip out around the fields, we trotted. And, we had to pass a dump truck dumping to get out there! The most exciting part of our ride though, was the section of brush where a huge clatter started happening in the woods and it sounded like a crazy horse eating mammoth on the move towards us, or a scary sasquatch or something…farah spooked and bolted a little and I lost a stirrup and was a tiny bit unseated, though I didn’t fall off, and then what popped out of the forest in front of us (and looking MORE scared of us than we were of him) was a tiny red fox. He then trotted up the path the way we were headed, so we followed him quite a ways, hearts in our throat and all.
The last time Jill had spoken with Jim she remembered him wishing he was still cooking her dinner and complaining that he had no one to give flowers to since she left.
That morning while she sang Farah around the fields new to both of them, with their unexpected trillium, butterflies, tree breezes, rock piles, neighbouring junk and leaping squirrels, all spooking the tiny roan, she remembered singing to Ellie. And she also missed the hacks out with Jim to check on the burn pile.
She used to tell those powerful giants back then that the big pit was a horse coffin and they better be nice to her!
"we have no preference here" said the large animal vet, to Jill, about the radio. She was thrilled to acknowledge she could put it on whatever station she'd enjoy! And, the small animal vet stocked the fridge with the pop/beverage of her preference... while the other (farrier) brother did his best to make her laugh and lift the heavy things. And, they were a family of SUCH gifted whistlers, Jill didn't even have the words!
*
Farah and I disturbed SOOOOOOOOO many dragonflies today, with our trot round the big feild in two point. my legs hurt today so it MUST have been good for us!
The day after my pony spooked at a butterfly, two huge ugly turkey vultures swooped down from a dead tree we were walking past and she didn’t even flinch (despite the fact that her rider even had a scared vibe)!
Our last trip out around the fields, we trotted. And, we had to pass a dump truck dumping to get out there! The most exciting part of our ride though, was the section of brush where a huge clatter started happening in the woods and it sounded like a crazy horse eating mammoth on the move towards us, or a scary sasquatch or something…farah spooked and bolted a little and I lost a stirrup and was a tiny bit unseated, though I didn’t fall off, and then what popped out of the forest in front of us (and looking MORE scared of us than we were of him) was a tiny red fox. He then trotted up the path the way we were headed, so we followed him quite a ways, hearts in our throat and all.
The last time Jill had spoken with Jim she remembered him wishing he was still cooking her dinner and complaining that he had no one to give flowers to since she left.
That morning while she sang Farah around the fields new to both of them, with their unexpected trillium, butterflies, tree breezes, rock piles, neighbouring junk and leaping squirrels, all spooking the tiny roan, she remembered singing to Ellie. And she also missed the hacks out with Jim to check on the burn pile.
She used to tell those powerful giants back then that the big pit was a horse coffin and they better be nice to her!
2007-05-28
Observations
Jill didn't even notice that the standardbred stable mascot was a stallion. Was he well behaved or what?! She was glad that her boss had already said she was worth her weight in gold, had hinted about needing riding lessons and showed her the young filly she would learn/teach to jog (the term for running round the practice track with a sulky and yer shades).
And, it had not gone un-noticed how CUTE all(both) the farriers on the property were...
*
When the had their first date
"well, you are the first woman i have ever seen just get in my truck like that" Jim said
"what was i supposed to do?" Jill asked, not getting what he meant, and settling herself after stepping so high up into the cab, and slamming the door between them. Jim walked around to the driver's side smiling, "its so high. its so messy" he was imitating a woman's voice, and then said that most girls at least ask for help.
*
could it be that one of the men in that recent riding class was 76?
*
Jim was surprised and amused to see Jill smack the Sandman, with a backhand the colt did not see coming, as tried to get a little nippy over the stall door. The guests to the barn that day had laughed to see the brood mare drink the bucket right from the chore girl's not-yet-20-years in the making-arms, with the foal snooping around over momma's neck. With her hands full, Jill had nothing to push the nosy filly's face back with, so had used repeated pecks on the accidental pet's muzzle.
*
"you are sure lucky you found this place"
"seems so to me"
"these are good people here"
"seems so to me"
*
And, it had not gone un-noticed how CUTE all(both) the farriers on the property were...
*
When the had their first date
"well, you are the first woman i have ever seen just get in my truck like that" Jim said
"what was i supposed to do?" Jill asked, not getting what he meant, and settling herself after stepping so high up into the cab, and slamming the door between them. Jim walked around to the driver's side smiling, "its so high. its so messy" he was imitating a woman's voice, and then said that most girls at least ask for help.
*
could it be that one of the men in that recent riding class was 76?
*
Jim was surprised and amused to see Jill smack the Sandman, with a backhand the colt did not see coming, as tried to get a little nippy over the stall door. The guests to the barn that day had laughed to see the brood mare drink the bucket right from the chore girl's not-yet-20-years in the making-arms, with the foal snooping around over momma's neck. With her hands full, Jill had nothing to push the nosy filly's face back with, so had used repeated pecks on the accidental pet's muzzle.
*
"you are sure lucky you found this place"
"seems so to me"
"these are good people here"
"seems so to me"
*
2007-05-09
Tank Tops to Leg Cramps
are expressly written out of the appropriate riding apparel rules of two of the places i like to ride. like sandals as a safety issue?
at several other places i participate in horse activities, they are permitted.
in florida, i took it upon myself to address the risk issue with the boss. i said that while i was schooling Ellie dressage the day prior, while the lesson the boss was teaching was going on, i ended up boiling hot, but/because i didn't dare to take off my short sleeve shirt;
because all i had on underneath it was this: and i showed the boss the tank-with shelf yoga wear the flatchested me generally wears in leui of a bra.
the boss thought that such dress code would be fine, for hacking around the sunny private property, as long as i didn't think i could ride a sales horse for a potential buyer wearing something like that. just like jeans were okay sometimes. the boss also threatened to send a note to a former mentor, feigning surprise that i had initiated "topless tuesdays" ha ha ha
*
When driving back from Florida, Jill used the cruise control for the very first time. It was a total lifesaver, because for days (duh!) before that she'd been killing her thigh with the forced pressure/pose required for the looooooooooon drives. "It was such a relief -- my last day of driving was the longest, but also by far the easiest!"
Jill said when they finally thought to open the partition in the horse trailer for the big bay it provided a similar comfort for him.
at several other places i participate in horse activities, they are permitted.
in florida, i took it upon myself to address the risk issue with the boss. i said that while i was schooling Ellie dressage the day prior, while the lesson the boss was teaching was going on, i ended up boiling hot, but/because i didn't dare to take off my short sleeve shirt;
because all i had on underneath it was this: and i showed the boss the tank-with shelf yoga wear the flatchested me generally wears in leui of a bra.
the boss thought that such dress code would be fine, for hacking around the sunny private property, as long as i didn't think i could ride a sales horse for a potential buyer wearing something like that. just like jeans were okay sometimes. the boss also threatened to send a note to a former mentor, feigning surprise that i had initiated "topless tuesdays" ha ha ha
*
When driving back from Florida, Jill used the cruise control for the very first time. It was a total lifesaver, because for days (duh!) before that she'd been killing her thigh with the forced pressure/pose required for the looooooooooon drives. "It was such a relief -- my last day of driving was the longest, but also by far the easiest!"
Jill said when they finally thought to open the partition in the horse trailer for the big bay it provided a similar comfort for him.
2007-03-28
The Pony Club Test
The other rider called “inside” but Jill didn’t have enough control of her horse to make it work. Luckily the more skilled and confident equestrian changed course and avoided colliding with the only other pair sharing the arena. Thank goodness! You never knew what to expect on a show day like this, and Jill was relieved that riders from other stables were playing by rules she recognized AND that they could adequately adapt to change for everyone's benefit.
When her teacher had changed the line up and sent Jill to her pony club test on the greener horse, the teacher's very own, she'd said it was because the other student wouldn't be willing to switch mounts. But Jill knew it was a gift from her mentor, in that at least the younger beast had the benefit of very good training! She just hoped she'd be able to maximze that advantage.
When Jill told her friend about failing the pre-test simulation for time faults, despite all the compliments in regards to her style, her bud made a funny outraged faced and told a story about almost failing her driver’s lisence for “ONE Steamboat!” Jill just loved her pal's moxy. And she hoped luck would be with her on test day - while the level she was testing for was a stretch, she'd heard that the examiner's sometimes just asked all the right questions. "That's what I'm hoping for" she enthused, "Afterall, I got my driver's lisence without having to parallel park!"
When her teacher had changed the line up and sent Jill to her pony club test on the greener horse, the teacher's very own, she'd said it was because the other student wouldn't be willing to switch mounts. But Jill knew it was a gift from her mentor, in that at least the younger beast had the benefit of very good training! She just hoped she'd be able to maximze that advantage.
When Jill told her friend about failing the pre-test simulation for time faults, despite all the compliments in regards to her style, her bud made a funny outraged faced and told a story about almost failing her driver’s lisence for “ONE Steamboat!” Jill just loved her pal's moxy. And she hoped luck would be with her on test day - while the level she was testing for was a stretch, she'd heard that the examiner's sometimes just asked all the right questions. "That's what I'm hoping for" she enthused, "Afterall, I got my driver's lisence without having to parallel park!"
2007-03-10
Teacher's Pets
"I was there" said a beauty queen, support of the pony high jinks story. Jill had told about the time Blue ran back to the barn with her little sister.
*
"How many mothers encourage their 3 yr old to say YES, when asked if they want to see the sexy body of the fella you're having them meet for the very first time? At least one unique and inspirational parent I know! It was not a riding lesson, just a fun visit to see my old friend Stoney Poney and the young girl getting the tour taught me that brushing a horse is also called grooming!"Jill smiled.
and as for my afternoon girl, well, i just want her to know that our black, easily startled friend made an oops-sorry-face after the spook that took her.
*
"How many mothers encourage their 3 yr old to say YES, when asked if they want to see the sexy body of the fella you're having them meet for the very first time? At least one unique and inspirational parent I know! It was not a riding lesson, just a fun visit to see my old friend Stoney Poney and the young girl getting the tour taught me that brushing a horse is also called grooming!"Jill smiled.
and as for my afternoon girl, well, i just want her to know that our black, easily startled friend made an oops-sorry-face after the spook that took her.
2007-02-21
Barn Doors
"Jill doesn't have a line on him" Jim said to his brother, the stable manager, and sent him over to the covered round pen to look in on the new team member and the naughtiest powerhouse chesnut of them all. There were some unusual thumping noises coming from in there.
When Jill saw his face peeking over the top, she was thrilled. It was the first time anyone had ever shown the slightest concern for her safety. He asked "How is it going in here?" so, with the beast cantering in a circle around her, she said, "Will you please make sure that those pins outside the door are all the way down? This bratty beast is so smart that he keeps banging against the doors and then turning around to see if they've opened. And, I would rather be locked in here with the likes of him than have him escape and be out there, on the loose."
Jim stuck his head over a few moments later and said for her to call him when she wanted out. He said he'd be listening in the barn for her call. Some ten minutes later, after shouting Jim's name, requesting release, she came in the stable and thanked big brother for his timely ESP. He confidently took credit.
But in the afterwork chatter they always shared, she'd learned it was actually Jim's awareness that had led to the assistance... she thanked him profusely.He said he was remembering what she had told him the the day prior, about how while free-lunging the same horse, he had banged against the doors, accidentally, while cantering and correcting his lead as she'd asked him to. "The doors burst open," she'd said "startling us both." But she had immediately and calmly commanded "Buddy, whoa" and was flabbergasted when he stopped dead in his tracks, facing the bright sunlight and lush grass outside the sandy ring.She had gone on and on how relieved and delighted at his new, beautiful obedience she was. Proud too, but she knew to give the horse the credit he was due... she said had told him, "Good boy good boy and came up to his side with a tiny bite of carrot for reward. "It's lucky he's so motivated by food," she enthused, but Jim said he knew it was her all of her kind training methods combined that were making the difference with Buddy.
"That and your sweet voice," he added.
When Jim and Jill had gone to see the trick horses at the fundraiser event in the nearby college town, the boss had said "you can teach Buddy that stuff. He would bow for a carrot." Jill replied, "Okay, good, instead of asking him to somersalt for our first trick, I thought I would start with "Head Down."The next morning Jim heard Jill leading the beast in from the paddock. She said "how do you say DON'T bite me in horse? Or maybe it's tiger. Are you part tiger? Should I try and speak tiger to you?"*http://loguelikevogue12.blogspot.com/2006/12/speaking-horse.html
*
They had him tranqued to do the full body clip, but the drugs didn’t really seem to be effecting him. He was his usual alert yet oblivous self. But, even Jill was surprised by how well Buddy behaved, in the cross ties, with her holding a lead shank for extra security. They had passed over his entire left side with the vibrating, noise rattling clippers, that had freaked out more reliably calm horses than he, and the stable manager was already half done the beast’s right hand side when it began to get complicated.
A new boarder, the New Jersey horse-humbling driver man started lunging in the dressage ring. Jill and Buddy noticed right away and when the distraction seemed too much for her charge she spoke up – “Is he allowed to be doing that in that ring?” gesturing out the big open doors. The clippers were immediately turned off and Jim was summoned and then sent to deliver the “lunging in the round pen only rule” as quickly as possible. As Jim returned to the barn, the big man and the small, young, chesnut disappeared from sight, in search of more appropriate schooling areas.
But then, when they suddenly appeared again, walking, with all their lunging gear, passing by en route to their area of the big barn giant, Jill's powerful, athletic, equine subject freaked out in the cross ties. With his scrambling, he sent both members of the clipper team flying, back against the walls. As Jill crashed back against the concrete walls, barely on her feet but still holding the shank she commanded, "Stand."
And Buddy stood, head held high and straining against the fully extended chains attached to the wall, fixated only on the pair on the concrete bath. Jim’s brother started whipping him with the electrical cord, as he regained his balance, but the horse didn't even seem to notice. “What do we want him to do?” Jill said, stepping forward towards Buddy’s head, struggling for breath.
The stable manager said, “he’s on the plug” and pointed to the other electric outlet end of the clipper's extension cord, on the ground under Buddy’s front right hoof. Still shakey, and despite the stable manager's so-called disciplinary action, she pushed on Buddy’s shoulder and pulled gently on the lead shank chain over his nose, saying weakly, “Back.” And, to their shock, he backed up one step, exactly as requested. Releasing the pressure on the crossties, instead of breaking them off the walls and bursting out of the barn loose like they'd all expected.
They decided simply to finish his body and shave his head the next day. But, she was proud of Buddy and proud of the way her ground work with him had just paid off.
For the follow up clipper session, the stable manager "changed the cocktail" and Buddy was so drugged he could not even walk down the hall safely. The stable manager was guiding his hind end holding his tail, and Jim was leading but having a hard time keeping the horse's front end moving down the middle of the aisle. Buddy was staggering, very out of balance, almost falling over and when they halted him his head was way down below the clips on the cross ties. As Jill attended to other chores, Jim held a handful of mane, while his brother finished the clip job on the halterless, barely conscious chesnut. When the boss came in, Jim's brother made a joke. "I think the way Jill held him yesterday made all the difference in his behaviour, don't you Jim?" And it was then that Jill knew that her influence on Buddy was legitimate, and tangible, even if only she and the horse were able to openly acknowledge or demonstrate it.
*
Thinking back on the incident got Jill believing Buddy had a problem with vision in his left eye, and that he had simply been trying to see the lathered yearling more clearly. After all, when he spooked right over you, you were always standing on his left. "There's something about the way he was holding his head up so high that sticks in my mind" she said to Jim. "They have to move their head to position the eye. Think about it, all his wounds are on his left side, I bet the eye was damaged somehow in the same accident." She had once shown Jim an odd dent-like tiny scar on Buddy's lower eye lid.
He said nothing, and she thought he looked unusually skeptical of her theory. "Either that," she added "or Buddy’s got a special sense of premonition, since that was the very chesnut yearling from New Jersey who made Sara parapalegic for life. Talk about closing the barn door AFTER the horse..." Jill sighed. "I can't believe they brought waivers around for everyone to sign the day after the tragic accident."
When Jill saw his face peeking over the top, she was thrilled. It was the first time anyone had ever shown the slightest concern for her safety. He asked "How is it going in here?" so, with the beast cantering in a circle around her, she said, "Will you please make sure that those pins outside the door are all the way down? This bratty beast is so smart that he keeps banging against the doors and then turning around to see if they've opened. And, I would rather be locked in here with the likes of him than have him escape and be out there, on the loose."
Jim stuck his head over a few moments later and said for her to call him when she wanted out. He said he'd be listening in the barn for her call. Some ten minutes later, after shouting Jim's name, requesting release, she came in the stable and thanked big brother for his timely ESP. He confidently took credit.
But in the afterwork chatter they always shared, she'd learned it was actually Jim's awareness that had led to the assistance... she thanked him profusely.He said he was remembering what she had told him the the day prior, about how while free-lunging the same horse, he had banged against the doors, accidentally, while cantering and correcting his lead as she'd asked him to. "The doors burst open," she'd said "startling us both." But she had immediately and calmly commanded "Buddy, whoa" and was flabbergasted when he stopped dead in his tracks, facing the bright sunlight and lush grass outside the sandy ring.She had gone on and on how relieved and delighted at his new, beautiful obedience she was. Proud too, but she knew to give the horse the credit he was due... she said had told him, "Good boy good boy and came up to his side with a tiny bite of carrot for reward. "It's lucky he's so motivated by food," she enthused, but Jim said he knew it was her all of her kind training methods combined that were making the difference with Buddy.
"That and your sweet voice," he added.
When Jim and Jill had gone to see the trick horses at the fundraiser event in the nearby college town, the boss had said "you can teach Buddy that stuff. He would bow for a carrot." Jill replied, "Okay, good, instead of asking him to somersalt for our first trick, I thought I would start with "Head Down."The next morning Jim heard Jill leading the beast in from the paddock. She said "how do you say DON'T bite me in horse? Or maybe it's tiger. Are you part tiger? Should I try and speak tiger to you?"*http://loguelikevogue12.blogspot.com/2006/12/speaking-horse.html
*
They had him tranqued to do the full body clip, but the drugs didn’t really seem to be effecting him. He was his usual alert yet oblivous self. But, even Jill was surprised by how well Buddy behaved, in the cross ties, with her holding a lead shank for extra security. They had passed over his entire left side with the vibrating, noise rattling clippers, that had freaked out more reliably calm horses than he, and the stable manager was already half done the beast’s right hand side when it began to get complicated.
A new boarder, the New Jersey horse-humbling driver man started lunging in the dressage ring. Jill and Buddy noticed right away and when the distraction seemed too much for her charge she spoke up – “Is he allowed to be doing that in that ring?” gesturing out the big open doors. The clippers were immediately turned off and Jim was summoned and then sent to deliver the “lunging in the round pen only rule” as quickly as possible. As Jim returned to the barn, the big man and the small, young, chesnut disappeared from sight, in search of more appropriate schooling areas.
But then, when they suddenly appeared again, walking, with all their lunging gear, passing by en route to their area of the big barn giant, Jill's powerful, athletic, equine subject freaked out in the cross ties. With his scrambling, he sent both members of the clipper team flying, back against the walls. As Jill crashed back against the concrete walls, barely on her feet but still holding the shank she commanded, "Stand."
And Buddy stood, head held high and straining against the fully extended chains attached to the wall, fixated only on the pair on the concrete bath. Jim’s brother started whipping him with the electrical cord, as he regained his balance, but the horse didn't even seem to notice. “What do we want him to do?” Jill said, stepping forward towards Buddy’s head, struggling for breath.
The stable manager said, “he’s on the plug” and pointed to the other electric outlet end of the clipper's extension cord, on the ground under Buddy’s front right hoof. Still shakey, and despite the stable manager's so-called disciplinary action, she pushed on Buddy’s shoulder and pulled gently on the lead shank chain over his nose, saying weakly, “Back.” And, to their shock, he backed up one step, exactly as requested. Releasing the pressure on the crossties, instead of breaking them off the walls and bursting out of the barn loose like they'd all expected.
They decided simply to finish his body and shave his head the next day. But, she was proud of Buddy and proud of the way her ground work with him had just paid off.
For the follow up clipper session, the stable manager "changed the cocktail" and Buddy was so drugged he could not even walk down the hall safely. The stable manager was guiding his hind end holding his tail, and Jim was leading but having a hard time keeping the horse's front end moving down the middle of the aisle. Buddy was staggering, very out of balance, almost falling over and when they halted him his head was way down below the clips on the cross ties. As Jill attended to other chores, Jim held a handful of mane, while his brother finished the clip job on the halterless, barely conscious chesnut. When the boss came in, Jim's brother made a joke. "I think the way Jill held him yesterday made all the difference in his behaviour, don't you Jim?" And it was then that Jill knew that her influence on Buddy was legitimate, and tangible, even if only she and the horse were able to openly acknowledge or demonstrate it.
*
Thinking back on the incident got Jill believing Buddy had a problem with vision in his left eye, and that he had simply been trying to see the lathered yearling more clearly. After all, when he spooked right over you, you were always standing on his left. "There's something about the way he was holding his head up so high that sticks in my mind" she said to Jim. "They have to move their head to position the eye. Think about it, all his wounds are on his left side, I bet the eye was damaged somehow in the same accident." She had once shown Jim an odd dent-like tiny scar on Buddy's lower eye lid.
He said nothing, and she thought he looked unusually skeptical of her theory. "Either that," she added "or Buddy’s got a special sense of premonition, since that was the very chesnut yearling from New Jersey who made Sara parapalegic for life. Talk about closing the barn door AFTER the horse..." Jill sighed. "I can't believe they brought waivers around for everyone to sign the day after the tragic accident."
2007-02-13
Don't Use FORCE
Jill pleaded, over the phone, when Jim lamented that Buddy was his project now. No one else had time for such a pain in the neck. "I can't even get him into the round pen, never mind what he pulls should we actually make it in there..."
"Have you SEEN the scars wounds on that horse? He can take it. If you are gonna try and force him you're gonna hafta kill him, so I beg you to think of something else."
She secretly wanted Jim to bring the beast to her. She always enjoyed the challenge of Buddy - it was so gratifying when something actually went well.
"Have you heard the thing about how an outside of a horse is good for the inside of a person? I totally see how the program of horse care for convicts would be rehabilitating. Things with horses are all about patterns. If you lose your temper with a horse he remembers, and is fearful, (or in Buddy's case EXTRA stubborn and difficult) and you have to deal with the repercussions of your loss of temper the next time. And that takes a long time." Jill was going on and on.
"Conversely, should you let him away with something 10x because you are a patient person, and then lose it on the 11th time, you're no further ahead. You have to discipline him correctly each of the ten times and then you won't need the 11th. Make sense?"
*
I just tell him whoa and he whoas. "Right now, in fact, I am working on EVERYone's whoas. They are supposed to stay out on the track (of the lunge line) and whoa when I say so, not just carry on OR turn in and face me.
"Have you SEEN the scars wounds on that horse? He can take it. If you are gonna try and force him you're gonna hafta kill him, so I beg you to think of something else."
She secretly wanted Jim to bring the beast to her. She always enjoyed the challenge of Buddy - it was so gratifying when something actually went well.
"Have you heard the thing about how an outside of a horse is good for the inside of a person? I totally see how the program of horse care for convicts would be rehabilitating. Things with horses are all about patterns. If you lose your temper with a horse he remembers, and is fearful, (or in Buddy's case EXTRA stubborn and difficult) and you have to deal with the repercussions of your loss of temper the next time. And that takes a long time." Jill was going on and on.
"Conversely, should you let him away with something 10x because you are a patient person, and then lose it on the 11th time, you're no further ahead. You have to discipline him correctly each of the ten times and then you won't need the 11th. Make sense?"
*
I just tell him whoa and he whoas. "Right now, in fact, I am working on EVERYone's whoas. They are supposed to stay out on the track (of the lunge line) and whoa when I say so, not just carry on OR turn in and face me.
2007-01-13
Learning To Trust
Jill was lucky enough to go and stay in Staynor for an Ian Stark clinic, at Lexi Cameron's place. This was after the now late purple lady and her partner had decided to stop hosting events on the property, but were still using their fabulous facility in support of the sport, inviting big wigs from England to come and teach them, Olympic Team members, and some lucky others. Including Jill and Stone this time.
Jill was scared out of her head. Not only was the instructor the guy she'd watched on video win Badminton on Murphy's Law (the unridable-by-any-others beast), there were much, much better riders there, on much better horses. And, even the other teams that had trailered in had done a clinic with him there before! While Jill was honoured to be invited, and to have her corporate sponsor pay her way, she also felt in over her head. The others were challenging themselves on a familiar plateau, where as she was risking a step up, and a strange place, and a new type of training experience all at once. It was to be a celebration, really, of the fact that Stoney and she had finally (with some fine new equipment, known as the gag snaffle), reached agreements about him tanking off with her when ever, why ever and where ever he chose to run... terrifying experiences she had never known before. Stone was tremendously strong and skittish and simply loved to run like no other racehorse she has ever known. She sometimes said she had since always been afflicted with 'The Fear,' yet another obstacle to overcome.
Passage for First Timers
All the horses that morning were frisky. It was a fresh, fall-ish feeling morning and they all had their hands full, making their way over to the open, grassy space where the day's festivities were to take place. Through the fog and the trees there was a big bridge to cross and the water beneath it was very active. A little too active and noisy for the liking of their group of horses. They were just trying to get where the training was to take place, and already there was trouble!
Jill pushed her way to the front of the freaking herd saying, "Stone’ll go first" and urging him over. She was proud to be so confident, but Jo had taught her by then how to "attack him" when neccessary, so as to prevent him from ever stepping back. And given the part of the Bruce Trail they frequented for conditioning, they had done sooooooooooooooo much bridge work that she knew he’d go. She'd been stranded on the wrong side of a bridge for long times, many times but they’d broken through new ground recently and he had learned to cross on command. Besides, he felt braver than usual. As they bravely clomped over, picking up speed but leading the pack just as she'd predicted, they came through the break of trees to the next field first. To discover deer! Lots and lots and lots. Obviously it had been the scent of this big huge herd of deer not the just the bridge and busy creek stalling out the horses. Stone basically stepped in to the pack, they were so close to the edge of the treeline, and suddenly all the deer started bounding away, startled. It seemed like hundreds of them, scampering with Mutual of Omaha hind flanks thrusting against the ground in the dash get away.... Stone more than trembled. His hind quarters were doing the same action as all theirs, but Jill and he stayed in place, as the rest of the horses came up behind him. It was awesome. What a way to start a day.
The Need to Ride Off!
Jill had once set the "barn record" for falls, when 17x in one lesson she accidentally dismounted. It was learning to do a drop jump, and she just wasn't getting the hang of absorbing the shock of the lowered landing. She wasn't being flexible enough in her hips.
That was why, at the clinic, Jill found herself riding up to ledge of huge drop jumps, cringing. She had come a long way, you know, but these ones were so big. (6ft, she'd measure later). This slow approach and fear just made it all more rough and difficult.
The teacher had no time for her, for this behaviour, and he totally yelled at her. "Ride Off.(!)" He said harshly, and meant gallop of the end of the bank, up over that log and down to the ground on the other side, with no hesitation at all. He meant Go For It!!! Which she started doing, albeit terrified. And, the tough trainer was right! Despite the fact that these were Intermediate Level fences (near Olympic level), and she was in a Pre-training class, they were ready. Stone did not crumple on landing. Flying through the air with some speed made it easier! Smoother. She was starting to fill the thrill instead of fear...
While jumping the next couple Olympic calibre fences, not as baggage laden as the drops but beyond the level of jump they had ever tried before, the English coach shouted again “you’re not trusting him!” like that was a completely incomprehensible action. He doesn't know that Stone is a known bolter and quitter she thought. How could the clinician understand she had to ride defensively because Stone could not be counted on to go until he had gone? But then, she realized the coach was right. This was the cusp of a new trend. Not only was the horse listening to her, he was into it, adding his own heart. Stone was being brave and honest that day. She thought, "he is officially becoming the fire breathing dragon I have always known he could be." He had the scope all along, but suddenly he was demonstrating the heart to back the talent! Stone finally LOVED Cross Country and he wanted bigger, harder, broader, scarier obstacles than they had ever faced before. More challenging than each one before! And the teacher, to Jill's delight and and terror, was happy to present them!
What that coach was the first to witness and point out, was an exact moment of transformation. Jill knew that it would never the same between them as partners again. To this day, she knows that the horse remembers too. It was magic! She trusted him, and he came through.
*
"I forgot my boots and borrowed some from a rider-artist-complete stranger in town, a boarder from that stable." Jill reported afterwards. "A neat new friend that I also stayed with overnight, unexpectedly. Ill fitting boot aside, it was all very nerve-wracking and dramatic." But special too. Jill had been moved when the woman's lovely 4 year old daughter had told Jill, breathlessly, in private that her mommy was making a beautiful mobile in the gazebo "out of mattresses," taking Jill into the yard to see the beautiful overhead artwork her mother had made with the springs of many beds.
The next day, Jill made her TOTALLY non horsey family drive 4 hours there and then the 4 hours back with her the next day, so they could spend 30 minutes taking photographs of the jumps that Stoner and her had done. And then, she treasured pics of 6' tall kin, with a chin on the ledge of a drop jump.
She told them how one of the event organizers and high level riders paled while watching their class. She may have even thrown up. When Jill came in the barn she said, "if he thinks that is Pre-training level, I do NOT want to know what he is going to do to US."
http://loguelikevogue14.blogspot.com/2006/05/what-i-learned-from-ian-stark.html
Jill was scared out of her head. Not only was the instructor the guy she'd watched on video win Badminton on Murphy's Law (the unridable-by-any-others beast), there were much, much better riders there, on much better horses. And, even the other teams that had trailered in had done a clinic with him there before! While Jill was honoured to be invited, and to have her corporate sponsor pay her way, she also felt in over her head. The others were challenging themselves on a familiar plateau, where as she was risking a step up, and a strange place, and a new type of training experience all at once. It was to be a celebration, really, of the fact that Stoney and she had finally (with some fine new equipment, known as the gag snaffle), reached agreements about him tanking off with her when ever, why ever and where ever he chose to run... terrifying experiences she had never known before. Stone was tremendously strong and skittish and simply loved to run like no other racehorse she has ever known. She sometimes said she had since always been afflicted with 'The Fear,' yet another obstacle to overcome.
Passage for First Timers
All the horses that morning were frisky. It was a fresh, fall-ish feeling morning and they all had their hands full, making their way over to the open, grassy space where the day's festivities were to take place. Through the fog and the trees there was a big bridge to cross and the water beneath it was very active. A little too active and noisy for the liking of their group of horses. They were just trying to get where the training was to take place, and already there was trouble!
Jill pushed her way to the front of the freaking herd saying, "Stone’ll go first" and urging him over. She was proud to be so confident, but Jo had taught her by then how to "attack him" when neccessary, so as to prevent him from ever stepping back. And given the part of the Bruce Trail they frequented for conditioning, they had done sooooooooooooooo much bridge work that she knew he’d go. She'd been stranded on the wrong side of a bridge for long times, many times but they’d broken through new ground recently and he had learned to cross on command. Besides, he felt braver than usual. As they bravely clomped over, picking up speed but leading the pack just as she'd predicted, they came through the break of trees to the next field first. To discover deer! Lots and lots and lots. Obviously it had been the scent of this big huge herd of deer not the just the bridge and busy creek stalling out the horses. Stone basically stepped in to the pack, they were so close to the edge of the treeline, and suddenly all the deer started bounding away, startled. It seemed like hundreds of them, scampering with Mutual of Omaha hind flanks thrusting against the ground in the dash get away.... Stone more than trembled. His hind quarters were doing the same action as all theirs, but Jill and he stayed in place, as the rest of the horses came up behind him. It was awesome. What a way to start a day.
The Need to Ride Off!
Jill had once set the "barn record" for falls, when 17x in one lesson she accidentally dismounted. It was learning to do a drop jump, and she just wasn't getting the hang of absorbing the shock of the lowered landing. She wasn't being flexible enough in her hips.
That was why, at the clinic, Jill found herself riding up to ledge of huge drop jumps, cringing. She had come a long way, you know, but these ones were so big. (6ft, she'd measure later). This slow approach and fear just made it all more rough and difficult.
The teacher had no time for her, for this behaviour, and he totally yelled at her. "Ride Off.(!)" He said harshly, and meant gallop of the end of the bank, up over that log and down to the ground on the other side, with no hesitation at all. He meant Go For It!!! Which she started doing, albeit terrified. And, the tough trainer was right! Despite the fact that these were Intermediate Level fences (near Olympic level), and she was in a Pre-training class, they were ready. Stone did not crumple on landing. Flying through the air with some speed made it easier! Smoother. She was starting to fill the thrill instead of fear...
While jumping the next couple Olympic calibre fences, not as baggage laden as the drops but beyond the level of jump they had ever tried before, the English coach shouted again “you’re not trusting him!” like that was a completely incomprehensible action. He doesn't know that Stone is a known bolter and quitter she thought. How could the clinician understand she had to ride defensively because Stone could not be counted on to go until he had gone? But then, she realized the coach was right. This was the cusp of a new trend. Not only was the horse listening to her, he was into it, adding his own heart. Stone was being brave and honest that day. She thought, "he is officially becoming the fire breathing dragon I have always known he could be." He had the scope all along, but suddenly he was demonstrating the heart to back the talent! Stone finally LOVED Cross Country and he wanted bigger, harder, broader, scarier obstacles than they had ever faced before. More challenging than each one before! And the teacher, to Jill's delight and and terror, was happy to present them!
What that coach was the first to witness and point out, was an exact moment of transformation. Jill knew that it would never the same between them as partners again. To this day, she knows that the horse remembers too. It was magic! She trusted him, and he came through.
*
"I forgot my boots and borrowed some from a rider-artist-complete stranger in town, a boarder from that stable." Jill reported afterwards. "A neat new friend that I also stayed with overnight, unexpectedly. Ill fitting boot aside, it was all very nerve-wracking and dramatic." But special too. Jill had been moved when the woman's lovely 4 year old daughter had told Jill, breathlessly, in private that her mommy was making a beautiful mobile in the gazebo "out of mattresses," taking Jill into the yard to see the beautiful overhead artwork her mother had made with the springs of many beds.
The next day, Jill made her TOTALLY non horsey family drive 4 hours there and then the 4 hours back with her the next day, so they could spend 30 minutes taking photographs of the jumps that Stoner and her had done. And then, she treasured pics of 6' tall kin, with a chin on the ledge of a drop jump.
She told them how one of the event organizers and high level riders paled while watching their class. She may have even thrown up. When Jill came in the barn she said, "if he thinks that is Pre-training level, I do NOT want to know what he is going to do to US."
http://loguelikevogue14.blogspot.com/2006/05/what-i-learned-from-ian-stark.html
2007-01-12
Just How Much Moxy Does A Girl Have to Have?
Jill was seated behind the admin desk in a Corporate and Investment Banking office tower in the big city. It was her new full time career step, and her parents and coworkers approved.
She brought her left hand to her nose again, and inhaled deeply the scent of the police horse she'd patted on her lunch break, over in Nathan Phillips Square. She could not bring herself to wash it, and suddenly realized how badly she craved equine companionship.
She googled horse trainer jobs. And came across an ad for a part time instructor/trainer in Stouffville, at a stable essentially commutable by Go-Train. When she'd called, her mentor to be had offered to pick her up at the train station. That was how Jill got back into horses, and underway on "certification" as a credential in the industry. Jill was ridiculously excited to start training at Rolling Hill Farm.
*
Her coworker asked "Can't you ride near the Science Centre? Jill sighed, "For my discipline of riding, I could never bother with a place like that."
"Oh do you jump?" Jill couldn't tell if he was making conversation or was sincerely interested in the horseness. To make her point quickly, she said "Don, I gallop off cliffs taller than you are." When he gasped she teased him, "You're not such a tall guy." Sipping her coffee she continued "That's what we call a drop jump, and they are not my specialty. So I must commute out to where there are acres of land to find one to practice...
*
Saturday morning she got up at 5 am for the commute. She was greeted in the dark stable parking lot by the giant, sweet and friendly resident black lab, aptly named Bear. He had a giant three limb branch in his mouth that she realized as he got closer was actually two parts dangling bone, and one part dangling… paw. Ew! She could see brown fuzz or fur and black toe nail claws. Gross! Assuming it was a deer leg/haunch, and a fresh one at that, she instantly decided “dogs are NOT my department,” and went inside the barn.
The other labourers were Japanese exchange students, and just arriving so there was a language barrier to add extra hilarious confusion to all of the required hard-work-as-a-team. Together they threw hay and fed grain to the horses, and began cleaning out the stalls. Before the lessons got underway, Jill was proud that she managed to catch Josh, which the others could not. It was not easy and involved a sassy lead rope around his neck (instead of putting on a halter) technique. The owner of the barn, Kate, congratulated her for this feat, when she came in moments later, by stating that “he has been easier to catch lately.”
Then, Jill got to teach her first lesson, to Laurie, a young beginner, on Josh who was obviously in a be-a-pain-in-the-neck mood. The student could not get the horse to move, and was saying “he won’t. I can’t…” so Jill was tough. “Is that what you say at the bottom of a hill when your bike isn’t going up? No. What do you do then? You pedal! Soooo, let’s see you pedal…” The rider’s friend, a more assertive, outgoing sort and a more experienced student was there, and offered to go get a crop. When she caught up with them again, whip in hand, they were out of sight of all of the adults around the barn, and Jill had her walk on the horse’s right side, and give the horse a few good taps behind Laurie’s leg to help drive him on, while the Laurie “pedaled” squeezing the horse’s sides, and Jill led on the left hand side. The whole hour was challenging, but they did get him going, and it ended up well, as it turned out Laurie could reach her hands together under his neck for a big hug before dismounting!
Then, Jill got to teach her first lesson, to Laurie, a young beginner, on Josh who was obviously in a be-a-pain-in-the-neck mood. The student could not get the horse to move, and was saying “he won’t. I can’t…” so Jill was tough. “Is that what you say at the bottom of a hill when your bike isn’t going up? No. What do you do then? You pedal! Soooo, let’s see you pedal…” The rider’s friend, a more assertive, outgoing sort and a more experienced student was there, and offered to go get a crop. When she caught up with them again, whip in hand, they were out of sight of all of the adults around the barn, and Jill had her walk on the horse’s right side, and give the horse a few good taps behind Laurie’s leg to help drive him on, while the Laurie “pedaled” squeezing the horse’s sides, and Jill led on the left hand side. The whole hour was challenging, but they did get him going, and it ended up well, as it turned out Laurie could reach her hands together under his neck for a big hug before dismounting!
Then, because some potential buyers were coming, Jill was asked to ride Moxy! The big, beautiful, handsomest horse in the whole barn that Jill had adored since her very first visit at the farm! What an honour. Everyone at the whole stable actually seemed to have a crush on him (saying that Moxy knows them, seems to like them, always comes to them etc.). Maybe his celebrity was because his regular rider had just been long listed for the Olympic team. Maybe it was because he was the foal photographed on all the stable brochures. Or, maybe it was just because he is a 5 year old 17 hand Hanoverian horse who needed a strong, advanced level rider. Whatever it was, Jill was also smitten and was excited to be tacking up for her fifth time on horseback in years. She felt so rusty. And, she didn’t even have her riding pants!
It was also the first beautiful day of spring, and so, Jill was double celebrity as she got to be the first person to ride in the sand ring. She had long hoped for a chance to try Moxy and was brave enough then and there, thinking “at least if I fall off, the sandy, muddy ground will be very soft.” A crowd gathered to watch on the top of the hill – the 3 potential buyers, Kate, Dan (who farmed the land), Mich (the most advanced rider around) and a bunch of the other students. They started by lunging him in a big circle on a long lead line, and could all see he was feeling fresh. Despite the fact that he had been running up a spring fever sort of storm in the paddock all day, he bucked some more and did some cute leaps into canter. Kate was downplaying all the headshaking foolishness, but it was easy to see how fit and strong he was, as the excess energy did not wear off…
When the time came, Jill mounted and athletic, talented horse flesh vibrated under saddle as she tried just to keep her hands low and act like a rider on a calm, bombproof sort of hunter horse, like the boss whispered she should do.
The entire ride lasted only 7 minutes, which included the stirrup adjusting time!! After one or two trot circles round, one of the exchange student workers, while dumping a skep in the manure pile accidentally dropped it. So the big green plastic bucket came tumbling down the huge hill towards the looking for an excuse to freak out beast. Boing Bounce Boing Bounce Boing. Jill didn’t even know exactly what Moxy did or how she stayed on, but no one besides the horse and rider could see why he had even spooked and taken off on his bucking spree in the first place. She regained control at the far side of the ring, and made a joke about there being no charge for the circus show, just as a loose horse came trotting towards them. What the *&^% ??? Someone had accidentally let go of a horse they were leading. Moxy snorted and put his head down as if to start anew. Kate shouted “dismount!” which Jill did, fast; kicking both feet out of the stirrups and jumping down to the ground on Moxy’s left side. She said “Whoa,” firmly, and he did stand still, thank goodness.
The runaway horse was caught, as the potential buyers stumbled over one another getting into their car saying “He’s a little more horse than we’re looking for right now” and speeding off down the gravel driveway, in a cloud of dust.
Jill thought she deserved a medal because not only was she brave enough to get on such a challenging horse in frisky weather, but was lucky enough to stay on, and then managed to act light hearted about his behaviour, but Kate seemed disappointed. She said she had been counting on Jill to sell him. Oh well, Jill thought, “at least I got to practice an Emergency Dismount for my very first time
When the time came, Jill mounted and athletic, talented horse flesh vibrated under saddle as she tried just to keep her hands low and act like a rider on a calm, bombproof sort of hunter horse, like the boss whispered she should do.
The entire ride lasted only 7 minutes, which included the stirrup adjusting time!! After one or two trot circles round, one of the exchange student workers, while dumping a skep in the manure pile accidentally dropped it. So the big green plastic bucket came tumbling down the huge hill towards the looking for an excuse to freak out beast. Boing Bounce Boing Bounce Boing. Jill didn’t even know exactly what Moxy did or how she stayed on, but no one besides the horse and rider could see why he had even spooked and taken off on his bucking spree in the first place. She regained control at the far side of the ring, and made a joke about there being no charge for the circus show, just as a loose horse came trotting towards them. What the *&^% ??? Someone had accidentally let go of a horse they were leading. Moxy snorted and put his head down as if to start anew. Kate shouted “dismount!” which Jill did, fast; kicking both feet out of the stirrups and jumping down to the ground on Moxy’s left side. She said “Whoa,” firmly, and he did stand still, thank goodness.
The runaway horse was caught, as the potential buyers stumbled over one another getting into their car saying “He’s a little more horse than we’re looking for right now” and speeding off down the gravel driveway, in a cloud of dust.
Jill thought she deserved a medal because not only was she brave enough to get on such a challenging horse in frisky weather, but was lucky enough to stay on, and then managed to act light hearted about his behaviour, but Kate seemed disappointed. She said she had been counting on Jill to sell him. Oh well, Jill thought, “at least I got to practice an Emergency Dismount for my very first time
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