On our first ride we knew nothing and no one. I had convinced my self that i
would become hopelessly lost if I didn't keep someone in front of me. So I was
at the start intending to let everyone go and then follow. My stallion just
stood and watched everyone flying around. You could tell he was wondering what
the big deal was since he was clueless too. We even got slammed several times
by out of control horses. When the starter said GO everyone took off in a RUSH
of dust. He just stood there and watched in amazement.
Then it dawned on him the HIS heard was LEAVING him. My calm sweet stallion
EXPLODED like he was shot out of a cannon. He became firmly convinced that
this was the Preakness and the object had to be pass as many as you can. I was
using and egg butt snaffle...no help there. Thank goodness I had gloves on. I
had three wraps of rein around my hand and was standing in the stirrups.. and
I'm a big girl:-). He kept shaking his head and flicking his ears. I then did
the prudent thing and just manuvered through the crowd without fighting him.
Once I stopped fighting him he started to listen.
After the first 5 miles he realized that maybe he should have listened to mom
in the first place...(why weren't we stopping now). By the end of the ride (30
miles) he was very repentant.
That night he actually laid down tied to the trailer.
The next several rides I didn't saddle up until 15 minutes after eveyone had
left. He would keep looking at me then looking after the herd. You could tell
he was thinking (get the lead out..mom).
But he never charged again. Was very eager to find the herd but not nasty.
I started with the crowd one more time. there was one of his girlfriends there
that he was talking to before the ride started. She was in season...how
convenient. We got slammed so many times..I almost took him back to the
trailer. I was a little concerned he wouldn't leave the mare when we started.
How foolish of me. What is one mare compared to a whole herd. When they said
GO he realized immediately that everyone was leaving. One last kiss to his
little friend and he was "outta there". He was pretty strong but not
unmanageable. I think I've convinced him that if he"s bad at the start ..I'll
let everyone leave without him the next time.
There has to be a happy medium somewhere. It seems to be a little too dangerous
for us to be at the very front. Guess we'll never finish first...but will be in
one piece when we get there.
I guess I'm fortunate that I have a "thinker". Once I can convince of the error
of his ways he's ok.
Alexandra and Mirage