I just got back from taking my 23 YO stallion out on his very
first trail ride ever in his life! This horse continues to
amaze me. I've had him for 3 years and he just keeps getting better and
better. He did great!
I don't plan to compete on him. He had a long race career and deserves a
good semi retirement... some attention from humans, a few mares, and he's a
happy guy. But I'm thrilled to have another trail pal in the pasture.
This horse had been trained for riding only as far as a race horse needs
to be trained. Someone told me... they are broke if they don't buck and and
can be stopped within a quarter of a mile.
It was with great trepidation I climbed on his back 3 years
ago. He had lived in relative obscurity for many years when i found him.
He was 150 pounds underweight. I brought him back to health before
riding.
We worked on things around the paddock... stop, go, turn, trot, walk,
canter... he tried very hard. He now can do rollbacks, a lovely collected
trot. I can ride him in a 30 mph wind with other horses racing around and
acting like goofs.
So today, I shouldn't have been surprised that he took to the trail just
fine. His biggest concern was the white rocks, but he eventually figured out
he just had to step on them or go around them. A big buck came out on trail
and that didn't upset him. The little woodland creatures were
rustling the dry fall leaves a lot, but Szybki just kept on going.
We only went out about a half hour, but it was so much fun. I
don't ride him enough because I've got 3 other horses to keep fitted up and
there's only one me. So today was a bit of a diversion for both of us.
Anyway, it's not really endurance, but just wanted to share a little fall
riding joy with you all.
to keep it endurance, I've got Szybki's son, Flame, who is going to
be my next endurance horse.
"Whisper words of
wisdom, let it be." The Beatles
Chris
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