I did it. I put the first ride on the Small Spotted Gelding, and without any of the shaking and silliness that characterized the VLC's first two rides!
(Am I actually getting over myself? Probably just until I get dumped, LOL!)
I was much more nervous about this one, though I wasn't showing the same physical signs of freaking out. A lot of it is just that I don't know him as well. Cheesy though it sounds, the VLC and I have a bond and I really did not ever believe he would hurt me. (At least not, you know, in a get-the-fuck-off-my-back sort of a way). This one has a bond to his mom, Josie, and seems to tolerate me only because she would like him to.
The good news is, this meant he dealt with the very new experience by cozying up to Mom and trusting her. I am not quite sure what happens when we have to actually leave Mom and get to work, but I guess we shall see! For tonight, he was more than happy to walk quietly as long as Mom was at his head, though he did display the drunken sailor walk I am used to with green horses. The VLC never did that - I am not sure that, given his size, he really notices my weight at all.
All in all, a nice uneventful ride. Walked both directions, first being led and then on our own. No goofiness at all. Even dealt with a little use of leg. Couldn't use the Stubben as planned because we failed to plan for a pony girth!
(See, you all have to admit, this is my size to ride. This is me on 13.3 hands. Looks much more sensible than me on 16.2 hands, doesn't it? Damn hunt seat judges...)
The SSG's training will continue, but he is for sale and we'd love to find him a great home so please feel free to inquire if you think you might have a use for a large spotted pony! He has really fabulous ground manners and has had a lot of ground work. He is half mustang, half some kind of PMU draft/spotted draft sort of cross. At 13.3 at age 3, I think it's a safe bet he'll stay a large pony.
51 comments:
Yay! SSG sure seems to be relaxing into it. That's promising.
After some debate, we've decided to back our Auction Horse ourselves. We figure there's a first time for everything, and she's got the perfect quiet temperament to learn from. We're taking it nice and slow, much to the frustration of some of the other barn denizens who think we should be riding by now. But no rush. She's not 3 for a few weeks yet, and we're learning what to do... that takes time. There's no deadlines here.
I know what you mean about that "bond". It sure sounds corny, and I would have laughed at it a year ago. But time working with my own horse has convinced me that such a thing exists. Maybe some of it is just we learn to read their moods, and react appropriately. But I just find that my mare and me, we have an understanding, and I trust her to trust me.
Your size to ride? Compared to so many of the pictures that we have seen on FHOTD of people riding their VYB (Very Young Babies), you still look way too small. Well, certainly better than the VLC, but your feet aren't down to his knees, and shouldn't your butt be hanging so far over the back of the saddle that we don't even know for sure that there is a saddle there? ... ;)
WOW! I bet the VLC hardly notices you are on him, you must be tiny. I think if I hopped on a 13.3 they would get a sag in the middle and collaspe! And the sister to the VLC is adorable as well
I've also seen horses that are naturally very well-balanced not do the drunken sailor walk. One was an Icelandic mare who LOVED carrots. We put someone one her back for the second time, and she walked perfectly straight lines to get to said carrots. Maybe she just couldn't stand to delay her arrival at the carrots by swerving about.
Yay!! looks good, aren't mums useful? I had mine put me on the lunge today so I could work without stirrups. and tommorrow I am off for a ride with friends. Not on Guy sadly, but I am working on it I promise!
Yay! Go fugly and SSG, he's a gorgeous little fellow isn't he?
Well I see everyone's up and about early today. I also see in the photo that you've taken the wise precaution to not pick up your stirrups. Good girl... Prosit, this cyber rounds on me.
Moved the following over here from yesterday list:
Fugly said:
>>There was one that got sold last year that went to a trainer who likes to trail ride, and she had him going through water, over bridges, etc. all in the first 30 days. <<
Doesn't Merlin- not a laid back horse but a hot morgan- get some kind of ribbon for day 4 then? All the above plus gates, considerable deadfall, thick brush, and one scared grouse. Normally I wouldn't brag on him at this point as many horses initially crash through things- too inexperienced to know better- or follow the horse in front- but he carefully followed my lead, one ear forward and one back, the whole afternoon. As I said earlier this guy has surprised me.
S
Merlin does get a ribbon! I love it when young horses prove to have plenty of common sense from the get-go. Particularly the sense of self-preservation you mentioned. We can all work through things like stubbornness, but it's hard to work through something so crazy it'll jump off a cliff (or crawl through a window, as Mugwump just described).
Whew you are brave, Fugs!! No way on this green Earth will I ever get on an unbroke horse ... unless, like you with VLC, I know the horse well and can somewhat judge what he will do. Anyhow, SSG looks cute! He will make an adorable pony for someone.
http://www.outofshaperider.blogspot.com
>>(or crawl through a window, as Mugwump just described)<<
I enjoy her comments but can't find that one. (?)
Hay!'
Two things. I adopted a PMU (VCG - very cute gelding) and in addition to ground manners and riding, I did alot of trick training with him (of course, he is mine for life as he'll nod yes and no, smile and various other things). This seemed to be a great addition to all the training I did plus it's fun and he's the star of the barn. I worked with a book called Trickonometry by Carole Fletcher. ANd, best of all, if I was too tired to ride, I could teach tricks from the ground. I'm telling you it made my horse smarter as he learned to figure things out.
Also, VLC can you tell me about the western saddle you're using. I am an English rider however, I recently broke my ankle in a non-horse farm related accident and when I am able to ride, I want to start out with western...I'm thinking added security. But I don't want all the extra leather of a great big western saddle. What are you riding in? Brand, etc. Thank you!
I think he's adorable. I love that size.
The drunken sailor walk... that cracks me up. First time I rode my young mare at a walk she did that. First time I ever sat on her, I swung my leg over, stroked her neck, said that's that and got right back off again. Whoo! First ride! Sort of!
I've been told that I'm the right size to train ponies. (5'1" and back to 10lbs) You know how ponies often don't get trained for real because grown ups are either too big or don't care or scared of the little pony monsters. Kids can do it but it isn't always a good combo. My problem with training ponies is that I would fall in love and never want to sell them!
June evers- I recently rode a western show saddle with cutaway skirts and couldn't believe how comfortable and light feeling it was.
Cute pony! He looks trustworthy :) I am a non-helmet wearer myself so you won't hear any comments from me :X
What a cutey -- you can see his from his ears he's still thinking, "Huh? Okay, mom, if you say so...."
June;
Thanks, I'll keep an eye open for the book. I like tricks. I had a POA/feral cross that would head for his teeter totter if there was slack in the line. I don't know if it was because it was easier than longeing or if he just liked being 15h for a while but he would walk half way up, stop, and bob his head up and down in order to stay balanced level, and looked very proud of himself. Fun little horse I never could bring myself to sell him even though I could almost click my heels underneath his barrel.
LOL, my first ride was the drunken sailor walk. OMG, it was more like a spiderduck, legs all out, head low, very slow and deliberate.
What a cutie! Only 13.3? You really DO look well-suited to him, LOL! And if you do get dumped...well, you don't have very far to fall. :) What will he be used for? He looks like a perfect kid's mount prospect, cute and flashy and small.
Fugly, I'm interested in reading about polo. Do you know of any good books to recommend?
And by the way, I rode flesh eating pony last night. She was wonderful! :)
Yeah, my size is more suited for a large pony as well even though I love the big 'uns!
<<< >>(or crawl through a window, as Mugwump just described)<<
I enjoy her comments but can't find that one. (?)>>>
That was on Mugwump's blog - the link to it is on the VLC homepage.
Very - um - interesting story...
You must be very short, VLC, to look so small on a 13.3 hander!! I've been taking my friend's mustang pony out for excercise while she's on vacation. He's about that size but I wouldn't even THINK of getting on him - I'd crush him! (and I'm not even that big... just tall)
And even with that height, I wouldn't even CONSIDER riding a horse of the VLCs size... *shudder*
: D
Cathy, congrats on the successful ride of the spotted fellow. How was the conversation in your head before you put a leg over? Better? Non-existent?
The other day my daughter and I were out riding and were gong on the side of the "busy road" for a couple hundred yards. I was all fearful and then I said to myself, "Do you want to be all tense or do you want to enjoy your ride?" So, I enjoyed my ride. I heard somewhere you might as well enjoy it until you are actually falling off and hitting the ground. Otherwise, what's the point? That line of thinking works for me sometimes.
Oh and I didn't have on my helmet the other day in the sand arena when I cantered, but I was too busy to even think about it!
He is cute! I will ask my client still looking for a horse/pony if she might be interested. I would certainly take him, but we have too many already and without me riding for a while... He looks as if he would make a really nice hunter pony!
Way to go Fugs! Your hands are down... LOL!
Yay! Awesome job! Here's to many more good rides on him :)
June Evers- That is a Cordura saddle. I do not recommend them for a couple reasons- one as Fugly put it: It doesn't let you put your legs into proper position. I have also known them not to fit horses right, or put riders in proper position.
They are however lightweight and need little or no maintenance. To clean them you can hose them off.
If you can, go to a nearby saddle or tack shop and sit in a few to get the 'feel' of a good western saddle. You can try out the different brands as well as seat sizes, and saddles themselves. A barrel racing saddle will put you in a far different position than a cutting, reining, WP/Equitation, roping or trail riding saddle.
Some come with slick leather, padded seats, hard seats, roughout leather in parts or the whole thing, suede seats, have oxbow stirrups, short thick horns or 'taller, thinner' horns, strings for tying on supplies or D-rings to clip things on or silver conchos in their place.
A roughout leather saddle, with a suede seat paired with suede chaps will basicly glue your ass & legs to the saddle in any position, good or bad.
They can be custom ordered or customized to whatever extent your checkbook can handle.
The important thing is the saddle fits your horse and you. Anything less makes for a miserable ride.
If you want, feel free to email me through the blog. I would be happy to send you links, pictures and any info you need.
CnJ - if I were seriously going to break horses again, for a living, I would buy a roughout bronc saddle. I rode a very difficult horse in one of those once and WOW...you could NOT get unstuck with that and chaps. It was awesome. He pitched, I just sat back and whapped him with the reins like Joe Cool. Not a fear in the world. He got over his bucking issue very, very quickly as he realized it was not getting him anywhere.
Here's my favorite thing about the cordura: I can lift it. I really do have trouble with western saddles normally. I would like to get another lightweight barrel saddle - I used to have a Blue Ridge and I really liked that. I think it was only 22 lbs.
>>How was the conversation in your head before you put a leg over? Better? Non-existent? <<
It was basically like this:
Right Brain: Your luck is going to run out. You know it is. And you're gonna rack yourself up right before the very fun weekend you have planned for yourself.
Left Brain: Yeah, but you told the entire world on your blog that you were gonna get on this thing before the end of the month. And you know you don't have time to do it Thursday or Friday. So go get on the pony. For god's sake, it's a PONY.
It really was nice not to be quite so high in the air on a green horse! I'm actually looking forward to taking him for another spin. Maybe Friday at lunch if his mom has time to help me.
CNJ..
LOVE the glued-ass comment - I'm still chuckling about that one. I've been looking for the "right" one for a while now for the express purpose of trail riding.
I don't want anything expensive, but I don't want a piece of junk either. And a suede/rough-out seat is a MUST!
I want my ass glued, too...
So far the Fabtron Lady Trail saddle has struck my fancy, but am still undecided.
BTW...
Congrats on the ride Fugly!!
Ponies really are "where its at". I've already decided that someday when I'm horseless I'm going to get a Haflinger.
They're poines. They're drafts.
What's not to love?!
Congrats on getting on the SSG! He is one cute pony, that's for sure. I'd buy him! Honestly, I think with a lot of training you could sell him as a sport pony and make a nice chunk of change.
I rode my VLG last night... in a lesson! For the first time in... forever. And my god, was it ever tiring.
I've continued jumping by myself, even without a coach, but I didn't realize how rusty I really was. All of my muscles were aching, and it wasn't even that complex of a course that we were jumping!
Of course, it happened to be his first day out in the outdoor arena... so he was pretty strong/heavy.
I want to see pics of some babies! I'm hoping one of the mares at our barn foaled last night. Her milk was cloudy and she's about as big as a house!
You look good on SSG! Nice pony! You are one of the lucky adults that can ride a pony and still look good. Why don't you get a few to train and make a few dollars on the side. I hear nice hunter ponies can bring a few dollars! That could fund a few rescues.
VLC- The pic's I emailed of me riding Psyndi Loo I'm riding in my older than dirt Simco that I bought used for $125. Replacing a few much needed parts- both latigos, cinch, and stirrups put me still under $300 and I've had it for several years now.
It's light, comfortable and fits my girls, the Arab pictured and the TB's- though I have only had it on the one mare (MAM) once and never on the red mare...
It's well broken in and seldom needs much other than a good wipe down and oiling here and there. It's actually more comfortable to post in then my old AP saddle ever thought of being.
And for those of you thinking suede seats and roughout, oiling them is bad for them. The roughout will smooth out quickly unless you are willing to take a stiff or wire brush to it to keep the roughness up. Otherwise, oil it from the 'underside'.
When choosing a saddle with tooling- these can be a bitch to clean. Think toothbrush and saddle cleaner to get the dust out of the grooves.
No tooling, minimal tooling and basketweave tooling is easiest to clean. Trust me on that one... Mine has no tooling! Another bonus!
All things to be considered when making a big purchase like a saddle...
Char- I would recommend going to a tack shop or looking up a nearby dealer that can help you with fitting the saddle and also maybe let you try one out.
You may still love them or find out they look nice, but fit like shit or are miserable to sit on for extended rides. That always bites when spending any amount of money on anything.
When it comes to saddles and tack we would rather spend a little more and buy quality, than get a cheap price on a piece of junk.
Think about what you are expecting from your saddle, every time you get on your horse. Your bridle and reins- like buying brakes for the car. They better work EVERY DAMN TIME I step on the brake pedal!
As an ammendment to the last post- If you notice while surfing the web, a lot of used saddles of a particular 'brand' up for sale- Like New! Barely Used! Just Broken-In! There might be a reason for that...
Could be they are mass produced with little attention to quality, they were the latest 'trend' to sweep the region, or there are several others who bought one, tried it out and are disappointed and trying to unload it on someone else to help finance their next replacement.
Cut n Jump;
At the tack auction I once frequented they used to introduce that stuff this way, ' And here's beautiful new saddle from the south of Texas.'
That's not to say that the Mexicans don't do some fine leatherwork, they do, as do the Argentines, but percentage wise not much of it makes it up to the states.
Sagebrusheq- I heard once- long ago and far away- that Mexican people cure leather by urinating on it.
That may or may not be true, but I certainly have kept my distance over the years, from leather goods originating from south of the border...
Besides, once you buy it, if it falls apart, you pretty much have no recourse or manufacturers warranty.
wow...you defininitely didn't look that small on the VLC, but you fit thepony great! i am endlessly jealous of everyone who can fit on ponies- i've only ridden 2 but i love their personalities. If i were training them, larges could carry me no problem (im 5'9" and sorta average build i guess...heavier than i look, but strong), but since my barn is really uptight about the "look" i don't usually get to ride anything under 15 hh.
i rode both of the little boogers today, and they were both great (a little lazy because of the relative heat) and the weather was gorgeous, which was the icing on the cake :)
Three cheers for the little ones!
There are ponies and then there are pony sized horses. Morgans, Haffs, Arabs, to name a few, are more than up to carrying the weight of an adult. Then there were the 'ponies' of the American Indian, rarely over 14hh, and the steppe horses used by the Cossacks, also small by modern standards of fashion-and that's all it is, fashion. Check out the frieze of the Parthenon: the riders' legs hang down to their horses' knees, and people were shorter then: those horses couldn't have been much over 13hh if that. The TB is an Arab cross and was smaller in the past, and just as fast. If long legs equaled speed giraffes would be the fastest animals on earth. Even drafts before 1900 were much smaller than todays giants which are largely a 20th century development. And the huge medieval warhorse? Another myth debunked by close examination of archeological finds and surviving tack and horse armor. Among others, Ann Hyland's research pretty much lays that to rest. Not that there isn't a place for larger horses, they can jump a little higher, and pull a bit more, and extra bulk is nice for pulling over cows. But there is a price in deviating so far from nature's design, with horses, as with dogs: more soundness problems, shorter life-spans, less endurance. There are more small good ones than good big ones. But heck, I like them all.
S
Everyone:
Thank you for the comments about the western saddles. I am going to my local tack store to get fitted, horse too.
I just liked fugly's saddle because it looked light weight and to me, it put her leg in an excellent position. I don't want my legs thrust forward as some western saddles tend to do.
And, thanks for the comments on the suede seat. I'll keep that in mind.
Also, heidi the hick: What is a cut-away skirt?
Agains everyone!
I'm getting up on my friend Apx Qh again tomorrow. I've got a pit in my stomach just thinking about it but I need to do it. He's calm and a trooper. Plus she actually doesn't have the same seat I have and he needs someone w/more "leg" to make him really bend. I'll post on Monday How I do. I'm hoping for no shaking and sweating this time.
Heidi;
Doesn't the Wade tree, which is enjoying a resurgent popularity now, often feature that cut-a-way- allowing more freedom of movement? Is that what you're referring to?
S
June-
A cut away skirt refers to the skirt under the fenders/leathers and sometimes under the rigging. It is cut away to allow more of a 'closer contact' feel.
Sometimes english to western transition riders feel 'perched' waaay atop their horses, since the saddles can often have so much more 'bulk' to them. The stirrups don't seem to swing as freely and it can give you an unstable feeling for a while.
The western to english transition riders, find their legs swing more freely and there's nothing to hold on to. Posting is work and geeze some horses take a lot more 'leg' to get moving. They start using muscles they never did before and often end up sore for a few days afterwards.
It can be fun teaching, watching and helping people make the transition from one discipline to the other and the difference in the tack. One of our neighbors who rides mainly dressage, with a lot of leg and a ton of rein contact, after riding Johnie Rottens mare in his cutting saddle got off and said, "Geezus Krist, I felt like I didn't have a clue HOW to ride at ALL!"
Let go of her face, loose rein, neck reining, she moves off your legs and rates her speed off your seat, and to stop you sit and quit, (sit down, quit riding) say whoa and when she stops you drop your reins on her neck.
The funniest part about all this, I showed this mare as a hunter once. We were at a show so a clients' kid could do showmanship. I said what the hell, I have everything here so I slipped her into an english class.
Damned if we didn't get 2nd out of 8-9 horses! Johnie Rotten was happy we did well, but not thrilled with the idea of her being an english horse. He told me not to get any more "Bright Ideas" about showing his horse! LOL!
Cutnjump: It was quite an adjustment for me. :) As a lifelong western seat rider, I wound up in an English saddle last year while putting miles on my narrow arab. It wasn't my first choice (or my second, or my third), but the el-cheapo English saddle in the tack shed turned out to be the only thing available that didn't sore my horse's loins after ten miles of trotting.
After the admittedly difficult adjustment, I decided I liked the English all-purpose well enough to sign up for equitation lessons so that I could be less horrific-looking riding in the darned thing. They're really quite comfy...
Anyway, I am currently shopping for a better English saddle, have a budget of about $400 and am looking for "quality used" instead of "crappy new". If anyone would like to make some brand suggestions (all-purpose, more jump-looking than dressage-looking), that'd be really helpful.
Which Chick;
There are many good saddle makers and with $400.00 to spend you can get an excellent used saddle with lots of years left in it. There are 50 y/o saddles out there that are in good using condition and still good looking too. That's because the strength and quality of good English tack is amazing. Because fashion changes so rapidly people unload them so there are plenty out there to be had at great discounts. I have a Courbette, a Passier, a Crosby, and a Stubben and have never paid much more for a saddle than what you have to spend. There are numerous other good makers too. Stay away from synthetics, Argentine saddles (there are some good ones but loads of cheapos in this country), Indian saddles (ditto with Argentina), and as with western gear kid's stuff tends to be low quality. If you are unsure, a good way to determine the quality of a saddle is to look it up on the internet and see what the same or a similar model by the same maker sells for new. It should cost at least $2,000.00. You can shop on line but I prefer to put my hands on things and so keep my eyes on the paper ( big nickel and that sort of advertiser), yard sales. tack stores etc. A western tack store can have an English sleeper in it. My Stubben cost me $300.00. It is exactly the size and model I was looking for and is in near mint condition. I began looking in January and found it last month, passing up a few other tempting candidates in the interim. One last caveat: in one way western tack has an edge over English in that the middling range stuff is reasonably priced and of pretty good using quality, not so with English: only the very best stuff is worth having- and then the quality is superlative to any other horse gear made- but the mid range stuff no matter how good it looks and feels when new quickly deteriorates, the leather loses it's body and it just disappoints in every way.
One more suggestion. As a western rider you might prefer polo leathers to the spaghetti straps they use in equitation. They are made of water buffalo hide, stretch very little and last for years. The skinny ones are notorious for stretching and if you do much riding should be replaced every year or so. But they look pretty. Polo leathers start at about a hundred dollars and you'll probably have to special order them, but they're cheaper in the long run and not that much more expensive to begin with. If they've never heard of them at the tack store find someone who knows what you're talking about. Another special order item these days, though they used to be popular, are cotton string girths for English saddles. They don't chafe, they breathe, are 'stickier' than leather (I believe), you can toss them in the washer, and are a fraction of the cost of a good leather girth.
Happy hunting, S
A note of explanation. The reason there's no decent middle priced English tack is because of the labor and materials that go into making something as light as can be and yet still strong. From the animals selected, through the tanning process, and to the sedulous craftsmanship involved in construction, centuries of trial and error have gone into the design and determining the methods to build something so light strong and durable. For instance: according to Hartley Edwards, an English English saddle maker, there is only one part of a cow hide that is suitable for making a set of reins- and one set of reins is all you can get out of a hide. Of course the other parts of the hide are used for other things but you get the picture, it can't be done inexpensively. Imagine taking a mid priced pair of serviceable western split reins and removing half the material, or more. They would be too weak and wouldn't last. That's why mid priced English tack, try as they might to produce some, isn't worth having at all. It is only light.
S
Was this SSG's first ride ever?? Like EVER ever? I guess I missed that part...anyhow, he doesn't look overly concerned about it.
He is a nice size for you. Personally, I like smaller horses. I don't know that they particularly like me though, lol. Then again you also look great on the VLC as well.
I'm already going through blog withdrawal so of course, I ended up here. I think the SSG is the perfect size...I'm 5'5", any smaller than the SSG, I'd feel kind of creepy and mean, as I'm not petite by any means. I started at a new stable yesterday, YAY, it was great. Women my own age were there, and actually conversed with me....I'm back to riding 15H, a WP horse/ starter EP (that's me) Appaloosa, really nice and calm. I was reading the saddle comments with interest, I did try Western for the first time last year and I felt so elevated, it was a peculiar feeling when you aren't used to it.
I like both western and English. I also have a few military saddles, now over a hundred years old, that I use frequently.
The last version of the McClellan, which was a 1928 refitting of the 1904 model is particularly nice. In an effort to adapt the old model to the new forward seat (and use up old stocks) they re-rigged it with an English style girth and added leg flaps. They are very light and strong and will carry saddle bags, gear etc. The seat is deep, the balance akin to a dressage saddle, the contact is the closest of any saddle in my experience, the cush factor is nil. I've never had a gall or sore backed horse from one- but fit is a problem for some conformations and they're not suitable for some breeds, generally speaking. TBs, some appendix types, fit morgans, saddlebreds, etc. no worries.
so i know there's no new blog today, but i just wanted to add quickly that i had the most amazing ride today on the SLM and we even jumped a couple little x's. single trot jump, trot in canter out, and canter a line in both directions and very little excitement on her part too. she is very proud, and i endlessly proud as well (yay!!!)
the best part is, the trainer who let me jump today said that i can probably start jumping her 2 or 3 days a week, which at my barn is a huge deal since only trainers are allowed to jump when not in a lesson
If you lived on this side of the country and I wasn't on a college student budget, I would love my very own SSG. As it stands, I will have to stick with riding other people's crap for now.
I finally got a project that should last through the summer however (unless he goes off to be a police horse like some of ours tend to do). Ten year old 17.1 hh TB gelding who apparently used to do stuff but has been in a field with cows for 4 years. He's still a bit ribby but was supposedly much skinnier when he came in (my trainer could make Angelina Jolie fat). He's sweet and calm on the ground, a tad looky, but holy crap is he a nut job once you get on his back! He flat out refuses to walk, we prance everywhere. If you ask for a trot you get a mini gallop which you then have to slow down to a trot. He threw a tantrum when I tried to ride him through the gate from the grass field into the sand ring and spun, bucked and backed his way all the way across to the other side. He almost came out from under me at one point, but after much persistance we finally got through the gate and after about 20 mintues of trot-cantering, I had a decent trot with an acceptable frame. He's weird because he likes you to be in his mouth a lot. Not just contact, but what feels like hanging to me. I don't hang. If a horse is heavy and pulls, I give and take a lot to break them up and he just can't stand that. He wants me right there, hanging in his mouth the whole time. I hadn't ridden in 5 months and my shoulders were seriously killing me by the end. I think I'd almost rather deal with something that hasn't been messed with yet, but the very small warmblood filly I was supposed to put the first ride on is still very small, so they're giving her a few more months to reach large pony size (hopefully).
So I will just continue to enjoy your updates about your wonderful VLC while I deal with my psycho gelding.
Hey SSG will be perfect for some wealthy kid who wants to hop fences and be part of the h/j series that seems to evolve out of every high school!
On my end, I have moved the Doofus out into a very large WIDE open arena, no fences...he is loping, and being a VERY good boy! So today I introduced him to Mr. Trail Course! He clomped across the high wooden bridge like that drunken sailor you mentioned, then stood apprehensive over the trail gate and my ability to touch it from his back...but NO hysterics! He is loving his first set of shoes!!
How tall are you Fugs? I ride a 13.1 pony and am 5'2. I get the occasional raised eyebrow from someone in passing, though I think he's a great size for me. My little shit is fast when he wants to be and has scooted out from under me more than once, heh heh.
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