The Former Champ
At the Hunter/Jumper barn that I take lessons at during the week, there are over 15 different horses. I've only been there a few months. I'm still learning them all. I've ridden about 5 different horses so far. They wanted to offer some variety, make sure they found the best fit for me as a rider.
Yesterday, I rode Mickey. I didn't know much about him previously. Even though I've ridden him quite a few times now. He was actually the horse I rode during my first lesson at the barn. He's a very tall, 17 hand, stocky Appendix Quarter horse. He's about 13 years old. Bright red chestnut, thick white blaze, two white socks on his hind legs, and bird catcher spots sprinkled over his back and rump.
From what I've learned of his bloodlines, he's a very well bred horse. His dad was an OTTB. His mom was Champion AQHA Jumper. He used to do shows. But he got hurt. He has a chip in his back right knee. And an occasional sore back (Kissing Spine) that is irritated by poor riding form and heavy work. He retired, and became a lesson horse. His owner had upgraded to a younger, more capable, mare for showing and leased him out for lessons. He's perfectly sound on the flat and is very spook proof. And that's all I knew about him.
As I've ridden him, I've learned his quirks. If his back is starting to hurt, he will hollow out on the canter and his left lead will be sluggish. He will shake out his right back leg on occasion if his knee is catching, but that only happens when it's cold outside or if he hasn't been warmed up properly. I've learned to focus on long trotting for 15 minutes in figure eight circles before working him on anything else. It helps him work the kinks out. I also use a chiropractic saddle pad on him and put splint boots on for extra support. Most of the other students avoid riding him because he's "difficult". But that's not the right word for him. He's quirky. You have to take your time. You can't rush the ride. He requires a warm up, and a cool down. You can't ride him sloppy. If you play by his rules, in return, he gives you a beautiful, storybook perfect ride. When you don't, he acts sluggish, lazy and stubborn. But he's not any of those things. He's just sore. His owner likes having me ride him, since she knows I listen to him.
At my lesson last night, I wanted to keep practicing over the cavalettis, as I'm trying to work on my hunter skills. But I didn't want to take him over the poles without asking first, given his injury history. So I asked his owner. She said it was fine and she walked down to the arena to watch us ride. She watched us trot over the poles. He didn't touch a single rail. He felt perfect. Like he had done this everyday of his life. She asked me some questions about how he'd been riding for me recently. And then asked me to do the trot poles again.
"But this time, don't half halt him right before the first pole." she requested
I obliged, turned and approached at the trot. He picked up a canter a stride off from the poles and cantered over them. Flawless. Not a single rail touched. I was amazed. I didn't realize he had that kind of footwork. His owner kind of laughed, and said "You haven't seen anything yet."
She pulled a cross rail jump out in front of the cavalettis.
I re-approached. He trotted through the poles and popped over the jump effortlessly. I could almost feel the pride in his step. This was his game. He was having fun. He had missed this. I repeated the exercise a few times. And then decided to play it safe and cool him down for the day.
During the cool down, I asked his owner what Mickey had done in the past. And she told me that before he had gotten hurt, she had showed him at the hunter level, but that became too easy for him, so she moved up to the jumper level. Then he got hurt. And she didn't have the heart to sell him, he was a wonderful horse. And still very capable, in the right hands. And she told me, "Keep listening to him. Keep building him up slowly, and you can probably get him to carry you over a few jumps here and there. But don't ever stop listening to him. He's happy to work for you, because he trusts you, but only because you listen."
So that's my story. About riding a former state champ. And on building a bond.
And Yesterday's ride made me reflect back on the Konrad Lorenz quote.....he was speaking about dogs, but it can easily be about horses as well:
Yesterday, I rode Mickey. I didn't know much about him previously. Even though I've ridden him quite a few times now. He was actually the horse I rode during my first lesson at the barn. He's a very tall, 17 hand, stocky Appendix Quarter horse. He's about 13 years old. Bright red chestnut, thick white blaze, two white socks on his hind legs, and bird catcher spots sprinkled over his back and rump.
Mickey
From what I've learned of his bloodlines, he's a very well bred horse. His dad was an OTTB. His mom was Champion AQHA Jumper. He used to do shows. But he got hurt. He has a chip in his back right knee. And an occasional sore back (Kissing Spine) that is irritated by poor riding form and heavy work. He retired, and became a lesson horse. His owner had upgraded to a younger, more capable, mare for showing and leased him out for lessons. He's perfectly sound on the flat and is very spook proof. And that's all I knew about him.
As I've ridden him, I've learned his quirks. If his back is starting to hurt, he will hollow out on the canter and his left lead will be sluggish. He will shake out his right back leg on occasion if his knee is catching, but that only happens when it's cold outside or if he hasn't been warmed up properly. I've learned to focus on long trotting for 15 minutes in figure eight circles before working him on anything else. It helps him work the kinks out. I also use a chiropractic saddle pad on him and put splint boots on for extra support. Most of the other students avoid riding him because he's "difficult". But that's not the right word for him. He's quirky. You have to take your time. You can't rush the ride. He requires a warm up, and a cool down. You can't ride him sloppy. If you play by his rules, in return, he gives you a beautiful, storybook perfect ride. When you don't, he acts sluggish, lazy and stubborn. But he's not any of those things. He's just sore. His owner likes having me ride him, since she knows I listen to him.
At my lesson last night, I wanted to keep practicing over the cavalettis, as I'm trying to work on my hunter skills. But I didn't want to take him over the poles without asking first, given his injury history. So I asked his owner. She said it was fine and she walked down to the arena to watch us ride. She watched us trot over the poles. He didn't touch a single rail. He felt perfect. Like he had done this everyday of his life. She asked me some questions about how he'd been riding for me recently. And then asked me to do the trot poles again.
"But this time, don't half halt him right before the first pole." she requested
I obliged, turned and approached at the trot. He picked up a canter a stride off from the poles and cantered over them. Flawless. Not a single rail touched. I was amazed. I didn't realize he had that kind of footwork. His owner kind of laughed, and said "You haven't seen anything yet."
She pulled a cross rail jump out in front of the cavalettis.
I re-approached. He trotted through the poles and popped over the jump effortlessly. I could almost feel the pride in his step. This was his game. He was having fun. He had missed this. I repeated the exercise a few times. And then decided to play it safe and cool him down for the day.
During the cool down, I asked his owner what Mickey had done in the past. And she told me that before he had gotten hurt, she had showed him at the hunter level, but that became too easy for him, so she moved up to the jumper level. Then he got hurt. And she didn't have the heart to sell him, he was a wonderful horse. And still very capable, in the right hands. And she told me, "Keep listening to him. Keep building him up slowly, and you can probably get him to carry you over a few jumps here and there. But don't ever stop listening to him. He's happy to work for you, because he trusts you, but only because you listen."
So that's my story. About riding a former state champ. And on building a bond.
Such a sweet face.
And Yesterday's ride made me reflect back on the Konrad Lorenz quote.....he was speaking about dogs, but it can easily be about horses as well:
The fidelity of a horse is a precious gift demanding no less binding moral responsibilities than the friendship of a human being. The bond with a horse is as lasting as the ties of this earth can ever be.
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