Re: [RC] [RC] horse living up to names - Dyane Smith
Many, many years ago, I rode a grey arab at a boarding
stable who was named Akela. This Akela was a mortal pistol, used to
regularly run away. I once saw him run away with a professional rider who
broke the curb chain trying to stop him. Akela had apparently been a
stallion for some years before being gelded, one can only imagine in an attempt
to get some control. He had a thick neck and a roached mane.
I was only sixteen and still thought myself to be
immortal, so I frequently rode him bareback. I remember one runaway in
which it was so clear to me that I should not mess with him, just hope to be
there to the end. When his muscles bunched in flatout gallop, it was like
sitting on glass.
Years later, I purchased a ten month old colt with the
most perfect temperament...until the hormones kicked in. Even though he
was a criptochid, I paid to have him gelded at the age of 13 months. Even
though my little colt was bay (and before the hormone transformation), I named
him Akela after this wonderful horse I used to ride so many years ago.
Don't you know, that bay Akela, now 13, still "talks" all the time, rears, and
bites. Is afraid of nothing. When a bunch of horses around him were
freaking out over a trio of pigs that walked by the arena, only Akela was happy
to go help herd the pigs and even touch noses. A lot of this is my own
fault, but amazing how he turned out "studly" like the original (to me)
Akela.
Wonder really if we inadvertently influence the horse's
behavior?
