a few observations from a training ride (BRAG)

["Sarah McIntosh" <smcintos@rapidnet.net>]

Hi:

 

I had such a great ride yesterday; Saffire and I were enjoying ourselves so much I thought I would share it with you guys.

 

Saturday was pouring rain, so I stayed home and hoped for better weather sunday.  Sure enough, Sunday was  much better, clear and cool. Yeeehaaw.  Went to the barn and off we went.

 

Just for background, Saffy and I have only been together since last April.  Before that, Saffy was a unused pasture ornament for the last 4 years.  I got her for free as the owners had left her unused for too long, plus she had had a BAD trailer accident.    Saffy had a LOT of attitude which needed to be redirected into positive behaviour.   Saffy and I worked together and gradually her behaviour improved.  It's funny how as you're going along, you note the accomplishment and then move on to the next goal. 

 

As we were riding yesterday, with 3 other people and four horses,  I suddenly realized the huge leaps we have made in the last 8 months: 

 

Old Saffy                                ** New Saffy

refused to trailer                        ** walks into 2 horse trailer with me outside of trailer.

didn't stand for mounting            ** stands nicely for mounting

threw her head in the air            ** carries head in a nice steady level way

didn't walk through water            **will walk through any kind of water

didn't drink on the trail                ** is a drinking fool at every water stop

could not maintain steady pace       ** maintains even pace (most of the time)

could not trot down road                ** pretty much understands to go straight ahead

    without wandering left-right             until I say otherwise

no experience neck reining            ** has picked up basic neckreining

never been highlined or hobbled        ** hobbles and highlines no problem

never been camping                        **  camps like an old hand

never been trail riding                    ** goes down the trail like pro

only comfortable following            ** leads the ride quite happily

never done an endurance ride        ** successfully completed  23 mile LD in good form

 

Anyways, as you can see I am VERY PROUD of my girl and we are very good friends.  She nickers everytime she sees me and she trusts me.  I trust her too.  She is so smart it makes our outings really fun. 

 

Yesterday, right at the start of our ride, something unusal happened.  A big scary loud Helicopter flew right overhead (low) and circled and came back over us.  Saffy was scared but did not spook, boy was i grateful.  Saffy was so good while riding (about 4 hours slow speed up and down the mountain) that i wasn't expecting anything from her on the way home.  She thought she would wake me up as we were cantering down the road towards home and started bucking while cantering.  I said a sharp HEY! and a little tug on one rein and she quit.  I guess 4 hours of LSD on the mountain is not too difficult for her.  Once we get into spring we will start adding speed and distance, not at the same time of course.

 

Sorry to ramble on the so long, but i wanted to share our accomplishments thus far.

 

Happy trails,

 

Sarah & Saffire