Ok, so we never actually got to the point of me riding him in the
patterns, but HRH attended his first EVER gymkhana today.
I only had a few simple goals today for a horse who has never left the
farm since I brought him there in 2002 as a 9 year old (yes, he really
is a 15 year old greenie!)
They were:
1. Load into a trailer relatively easily - met with only a little bit
of difficulty, but he did get on and stay on!
2. Unloading at a strange place and not going into instant meltdown
(except for Mom's broken little toe on the right foot caused by
Reason's ADD at being in a new place and trying to look at everything
at once!) -met with a horse happily tied to the trailer with a hay
net, seemingly quite contented!
3. Sitting on him in a strange place - met surprisingly easily, but
sitting and moving are two different stories!!!
4. Go into the ring and do a pattern or two in the walk without too
much fuss. Unfortunately, #4 is where we ran into trouble, since he
was SO freaked out about the in gate process that he planted all 4
feet and refused to move; he was shaking all over his body and
sweating up a storm AT A STANDSTILL!!! I just jumped off him and led
him into the ring and through the patterns in hand. Guess we have to
work on getting on outside the ring at home and have someone work the
in gate for me, eh?
I am quite pleased with him, although it might sound silly to some of
you. He didn't buck or do anything stupid except for the 4 foot plant
he does when confronted with something scary,
I guess I need to take him back next month, eh?
Sandy
