Last week my cousin came out for a ride. She’s always been a horse lover but due to college and a new job she hasn’t been able to keep up with her riding lessons. In other words, she’s a tad rusty in the saddle. But I offered to let her take Wally down the trail while I rode Danny. Naturally, Wally’s notorious past had her a wee bit wary of him. She thought Danny, the one snoozing at the hitching rail, looked more like her style. I assured her that Wally was a better choice for her.
I had to convince her that no, Wally wasn’t mad, he was just… Wally. Finally she climbed aboard and we ended up having a fun time. She had to admit that I’d put her on the right horse. I guess that’s because I’ve gotten to know my two geldings pretty well. Like a couple of good friends, I appreciate both their good and bad qualities, as well as the little quirks that make them unique.
If you spend time with a horse you really come to realize how they’re all individuals, just like us. To put a fun spin on this concept, I decided to make short profiles of my two geldings. See if they share any traits with a horse you know.
Name: Danny
Name He’d Choose for Himself: Buddy Boy
Most Endearing Trait: Big and flashy former stallion, but a big sweetheart
Best Part of the Ride: His long-strided, smooth walk
What Makes him Stop and Stare: Other horses, as if there might be a long-lost relative in the bunch
If he’s Going to Spook, This Will do It: Something moving really fast that suddenly comes into his field of vision, thus disturbing his habit of nearly sleepwalking down the trail.
He has an Odd Fascination With: Llamas. He just can’t figure them out.
In His Next Life, he’ll Come Back as This: One of those tall, dark and handsome guys described as “everybody’s buddy but nobody’s baby.” He dates dozens of girls yet when he breaks it off he does it so tactfully that no one’s heart is broken. Eventually he’ll settle down, raise the perfect family in the perfect house and gain the perfect reputation. Just the sort of person you figure either has a stash of bodies stored in the freezer out in the garage or lives a secret life as a government assassin. But he doesn’t. He’s just boringly normal. And incredibly nice.
Name: Wally
Name He’d Choose For Himself: Gonzo
Most Endearing Trait: He always lets me know just how he feels
Best Part of the Ride: Despite being built like a mini-truck, he handles like a sports car.
What Makes him Stop and Stare: Signs. It’s like he’s trying to read them.
If he’s Going to Spook, This Will do It: Chickens, especially if they’re squawking and flapping their wings. Who knows? They could run up and peck him in the fetlock.
He has an Odd Fascination With: Garage sales. The more stuff strewn about, the better.
In His Next Life, he’ll Come Back as This: He’ll find fame as a notorious gangsta-rapper, but once he hits rock bottom he’ll clean himself up and become a mild-mannered celebrity on various reality shows. Then he’ll retire on the money he makes from writing a best-seller that reveals the sordid backstory of Hollywood. He’s the guy everyone wants to hang out with, but nobody wants to be around if he happens to get really riled up over something.
Why don’t you try making up profiles of your favorite horses? I’ll bet you know them better than you think you do!
Back to Life with Horses
LOL, that’s awesome. I’m afraid if I tried to profile my horse, I’d end up referring him to an equine psychiatrist.
Too funny! Here’s my go:
Name: Cleopatra
Name She’d Choose For Herself: Lady Girl
Most Endearing Trait: She closes her eyes and rests her head against my chest when I’m rubbing her face
Best Part of the Ride: Learning about each other
What Makes him Stop and Stare: Signs. Anything that’s out of place. “A pole on the ground? Might jump up and bite me!”
If she’s Going to Spook, This Will do It: The flapping tarp that’s on top of the fence. Tarps apparently are not meant to fly around, they’re bad enough when sitting on the ground.
She has an Odd Fascination With: White plastic. Even though it’s been by the water tank for MONTHS, she’ll still give her death snort at it before taking a drink.
In His Next Life, she’ll Come Back as This: A fashion diva. I’ve never seen such a girly girl horse before.
Love it!
Name: Clara
Name She’s Choose For Herself: Royal
Most Endearing Trait: Beautiful horse with a personality to match
Best Part of the Ride: super-smooth gait
What Makes Her Stop and Stare: ATVs!
If She’s Going to Spook, This Will Do It: Strange noises that she can’t see the origin of…there might be a tiger behind that barn!
She Has an Odd Fascination With: Mirrors. “Who is that gorgeous horse? Ah yes, that’s me. Let’s stay right here so I can look at me some more.”
In Her Next Life, She’ll Come Back As: An esteemed professional photographer. She notices everything and loves the limelight. She’s the girl everybody wants to be!
Name: Sonny
Name He Would Choose For Himself: King Louis III
Most Endearing Trait: Calm attitude and pig-ish eating habbits, hah. <3
Best Part Of The Ride: he's retired--never had the pleasure 🙂
What Makes Him Stop and Stare: Me, when not in my 'usual territory' 🙂
If He's Going To Spook, This Will Do It: quick movements! [ie: jumpipng up and down]
He has an Odd Fasination With: clothing. he enjoys eating it.
In His Next Life, He'll Come Back As: a former track star, now lazy couch potatoe, in sweatpants. 🙂
too cute! fun to make!
haha
NAME: Pogo
NAME HE’D CHOOSE FOR HIMSELF: Star or Diamond
MOST ENDEARING TRAIT: He loves me no matter what:)
BEST PART OF THE RIDE: He is fun and keeps you on your toes.
WHAT MAKES HIM STOP AND STARE: Cars. Not dirty clunkers, but the shiny ones. He likes his reflection, I think.
IF HE’S GOING TO SPOOK, THIS WILL DO IT: Anything I can’t see.
HE HAS AN ODD FASCINATION WITH: Chewing tack. When we are pausing on a trail ride, he needs to be tied away from the other horses.
IN HIS NEXT LIFE HE WILL COME BACK AS THIS: The class clown. He’ll be cute, nothing really good looking, but girls will be drawn to him anyways. He won’t really get into dating, but once he finds that special girl he will not give anyone a second look.
Name: Hafren
Name she would choose for herself: Baby Girl
Most endearing trait: Her good mood. I’ve never seen her pin her ears back or even look remotely annoyed, mean or angry.
Best part of the ride: Her smooth gate and no worries attitude.
What makes her stop and stare: People coming towards her. Who knows maybe they have a carrot in their pocket.
If she was going to spook this would do it: NOTHING. She actually tried to climb into the bucket of our tractor when we were doing some work around the farm.
She has an odd fascination with: The manure pile. She loves to stand on top of it, king of the mountain I guess.
In her next life she would come back as this: A beautiful blond secretary that spends way more time socializing than actually working.
This is a great story! It sure does pay to know your horse and form a bond, because sometimes the signals he sends out aren’t what people think at all. It was fun reading about Danny and Wally.
I REALLY ENJOY YOUR COMMENTS. THE PROFILES SOME OF YOU SHARED ARE FUNNY, TOO. A HORSE THAT CONTEMPLATES CLIMBING INSIDE A TRACTOR’S BUCKET? NOW THAT’S A VERY CURIOUS, BRAVE HORSE! MAYBE WALLY HAS A RELATIVE OUT THERE!
Name: Hunter
Name He’d Choose for Himself: Lover Boy
Most Endearing Trait: He loves to get scratches, and LOVES to make cute faces for cookies!
Best Part of the Ride: His nice floating trot (if he gives it to you)
What Makes him Stop and Stare: Anything…Light, Dirt, Wood, The fence, A tree, the Pig
If he’s Going to Spook, This Will do It: A bird call does it if he’s on the trail.
He has an Odd Fascination With: Foals and minis. He loves to play with them and used to get turned out with 2 mini horses.
In His Next Life, he’ll Come Back as This: A mini horse who is a stud and a fuzzy goofball.
Name: Joey
Name He’d Choose for Himself: The Baxatron. Because he’s dorky like that =)
Most Endearing Trait: He follows me around like a puppy without a halter and lead, and if I tell him to stay, he stays until he falls asleep.
Best Part of the Ride: The lovely moments when he remembers he’s a horse, not a giraffe.
What Makes Him Stop and Stare: Pretty grey arabian mares.
If He’s Going to Spook, This Will do It: The wind, and any noise on his right side (he’s bind in that eye)
He has an Odd Fascination With: The red fuzzy end of my dressage whip.
In His Next Life, he’ll Come Back as This: A famous actor and model that gets all the girls and has a lot of luck in his relationships until he brings them back to his ridiculously messy apartment, and he can’t figure out why they don’t like it.
Name: String Bean
Name He’d Choose for Himself: Isn’t his real name good enough??? Who names a horse “String Bean”? But, it’d be “The Bean”.
Most Endearing Trait: Can always manage to get slobber and/or hair all over me.
Best Part of the Ride: Just being with him.
What Makes him Stop and Stare: Treats. Duh!!
Name: Candy, I call her C
Name She’d Choose for Herself: C, she likes it simple (:
Most Endearing Trait: She give 110% no matter the day..if your into it!
Best Part of the Ride: When she stops with me just saying whoa
What Makes Her Stop and Stare: Her boyfriend Rocky (:
If She’s Going to Spook, This Will do It: Things that are in a new place.. or if she’s having one of her days
He has an Odd Fascination With: My camera. She loves eating it !