I know, it's been awhile since I've posted anything here and to those that used to read this quite often, I am sorry. My life has been a little hectic I'll say as of late! But lets jump right into some things that I know you have been dying to read about:
Memphis:
Oh this horse. I have leased him out to a 4H kid since her horse split his hoof at practice. (why shoes are important) Figured Memphis could use the work and he is usually pretty calm under saddle. We did a tryout with her first and he did remarkably well and so off to leasing she goes.
Then the insanity starts. Like the absolute insanity. Like so insane that I've been going insane about it. Gaiting.
That is a horrid word.
Gaiting.
If you ever in your life decided to oh I dunno, lose your mind over the most trivial thing such as riding a horse, then go ride. If you ever wanted to go completely insane, buy a gaited horse.
Gaiting.
This hasn't been on my big to do lists for oh, I dunno, ever? I mean it's important but, its never been that big of a deal to me because well, I liked just going fast and smooth. Who cares what gait he was in since I don't show? Now, its a big deal. I may be able to ride but if I don't know exactly what the horse is doing, then I'm not a.) qualified to be teaching somebody to ride and b.) probably should enlist outside help for myself.
Now, on bullet point a, I am going to teach this girl how to ride Memphis and right now she is still trying to learn how to control him, so I'm not too concerned about her and riding. Onto bullet point b. This one I've actually gone and found a TWH barn, somebody that shows them around KY, and hired her to help me. This lady put me on some of her walkers and had me feel them out so I could feel their gaits and know exactly what I was looking for in the saddle. I figured out what Memphis was not doing, what he is doing, and we worked a little on my form. (namely turn my feet in and if I ride two handed I need to grasp the reins instead of lightly holding them)
Saturday we started Memphis on Red Cell to try to get some weight on him. I know this is not a weight builder supplement, but my barn owner gives it to horses a little lower on weight since it for some reason aligns the stars in a horses body and they start to process food better. ( I really have no idea how this magical stuff works but all her horses she has given it to end up looking great) She warned me it could make him a little .. ummm... hyper?
Sure crazy barn owner lady! Lets give my horse a supplement that might make him MORE hyper? WHY NOT THIS IS A GREAT IDEA!
Yesterday I decided I was going to try to get Memphis into some gaiting using those new fangled skills I learned at my lesson on Saturday. It was muddy outside so I decided that I would work in the barn. Small space, but sometimes that is the best space to get work done. Did I happen to mention all about Memphis being hyper?
Took me 10 minutes to saddle because Memphis started doing his "THE SADDLE PAD IS A MONSTER THAT WANTS TO EAT ME" routine he did when he used to be on sweet feed. I mean its fine and dandy, I can handle a melt down and not get hurt, but I'm going to have to get him over that crap because the kids use him now. Anywho, then he did his "YOU MOUNTING ME IS GOING TO KILL ME AND MY LIFE IS OVER" crap, again stuff he pulled while he was on sweet feed. I swear you get him hyper and refusals start happening everywhere.
We had about 4 come to Jesus meetings over mounting. I started nice, you know just walking him back over to the mounting block once or twice. Then I started to get a little meaner.. you know backing him up a bit and then bringing him back to the block. Then I just got downright ugly.. you know... the coming to Jesus meetings where I WILL kill him and I AM the horse eating monster. Took 4 of those before the last one was super ugly and he though death had just come for him.
At this point a novice horse owner would have given up. In fact a novice probably would have given up at the saddling issue as a 1100lb animal throwing himself backwards, half attempted rears, and every muscle in his body screaming RUN!!!!!! would scare most people back to their beds under the covers. I guess I'm over his stupid tantrums, he isn't allowed to win with me.
By now, I'm still not completely insane and I go ahead and hop up. Stirrup is all effed up so I go into fix it and its a little long... oh well I think.. I won't be up too long and Memphis is usually a level headed ride...... I ask him for a simple walk and all I want is a slow contained walk out of him, which he does really well. Then I feel him start to tense up, like you can feel his back tensing up in the saddle.
Before I had a chance to gather up my reins off he goes. I automatically dig my heels down in the stirrups, one hand goes to the saddle horn, the other hand starts to gather up my reins, he's in a full blow canter almost pace, running me into the wall, ow that's my knee, spooked over me hitting the wall, quickly changes directions (think he would make a great barrel horse) that would make a seasoned barrel racer cry with joy, and bolts to the other side of the barn. I don't have time to half halt him, I don't have time to think really before he plows into the end of the barn. So I dig a little deeper, tip his nose slightly to the right, and ask for the whoa.
Just like that he plants his feet and I lean back slightly bracing in the saddle with my upper thighs and the balls of my feet as hard in the stirrups as I can. Good boy.
We stand for a second to regain our thoughts a little, I pat him and tell him good boy for the stop and off we go again. This time I am a little more cautious about what I'm doing. We get a good loop around the barn and I squeeze with both my legs, lift the reins up quite a bit while bringing them in so I have good contact with his mouth, and give a little cluck.
Great balls of fire, I got a decent flat walk out of him. Did it twice and called it a day.
Guess he can and will do a flat walk, I was just never asking the correct cues out of him. Now to make him do it again and again and again. Next time outside... preferably when he's had a little turn out time....
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