The following is a portion of an e-mail I wrote to a friend who used to be
the ranger at RDO (Rancho del Oso) State Park. The length of the trail was
about 6 miles and we rode to the end and return, so 12 miles total. It was
an interesting experience for me, as I had no idea that Banner would be as cool
as he was. We met and talked to about 127 total people last
Sunday....everyone was out in the park, afoot, horseback, or on bicycles....lots
of bicycles. We patrol in state park uniform and do a lot of
interacting. We speak pleasantly, greet everyone, answer questions
(historical, geographical or biological), and generally "make a
presence." We've been doing this for over 20 years. Our group is
about 25 riders.
Banner is 9 this year and I've had him for three of those nine years.
He was suspicious, timid, fearful, and elusive when I first bought him, sight
unseen via the Internet and a homemade video. It took nine months for him
to look me straight in the eye and accept me. We've been buddies ever
since. He's extremely intelligent and I've learned more from him than
any horse I've ever had in my life.
We've done only two 50 milers so far, but he has huge potential. He
has, so far, arrived at vet checks completely recovered, and has
finished moderately well with no evidence of being remotely tired. He
hasn't the smoothest trot, but his lope is lovely. He does spook,
sometimes suddenly enough to unbalance me. I went off only once in three
years. He's developed a very fast walk and powers uphill at a running
walk. I don't do enough trotting on him, primarily because he does
spook. If I'm behind my husband on his horse, the spooks are much
diminished and the trot smoother.
(Steve and Janet are my son-in-law and daughter.)
My main reason for sharing this story is my complete amazement at Banner's
calm acceptance of situations that really should scare a horse. But then
again, he can be such a goof-off and spook at shadows on the trail. Go
figure!
"We did a patrol of the park at RDO on Sunday afternoon My horse Banner,
who is known for his spooks, was wonderful going up the canyon. On the
bypass trail, built to circumvent the washed-out road, Banner was
perfect. Here we were, on a single-track trail on a steep mountainside
(my worst nightmare), and we met numerous people pushing bicycles along the
trail. Two of the bikes had tag-alongs and little kids. If Banner was
going to freak, that would have been the place to do it. He was a
perfect gentleman, quiet, and easy to sidepass against the bank while the
folks pushed their bikes past him. Banner appears to have no fear of
bikes or motorcycles. At one point, a young man rode his bike past us
on our right, no warning.....just there he was, quite suddenly. Banner
wasn't concerned, but the guy surely startled me. I spoke to him about
the dangers of not warning a horse upon coming up behind it. I told
him he might have been kicked by some horses. I was proud of
Banner. We rode all the way up to the end where the last bridge is
washed out and we had to turn around. Coming back, and especially getting
closer to the RDO HQs, Banner was a silly jerk.....spooked at
everything. I told Steve (Steve and Janet each have a gelding that is
a 1/2 brother to Banner) about this, and Steve said 'too much gas left in
his tank.' I'm inclined to agree. I have yet to see Banner
tired, even after a 50-miler."
Just another story about Arab disposition, since we've been discussing this
at length on ride camp now and then.
