During the past few weeks I’ve had the opportunity to ride my friend’s young horse. He’s a very willing, polite little guy, but he is absolutely still a baby. I always have so much fun riding younger horses. They’re anything but discreet when it comes to their thought processes. Here are a couple of my favorite “conversations.”
– A saddle pad?! That’s the scariest thing I’ve ever seen. And it’s going on my back? You’re lying – that’s not the same thing that was on my back yesterday.
– Stop putting pressure on my side. I don’t know why I need to move off your leg. I’m happy to move if you just open a rein two feet to one side.
– Fine. I’m bending. I hope you’re happy. You want me to change bends? I’ll do it, but I’m going to stick my neck out like a giraffe.
– I’m tired. Let’s stop. No really, I’m not moving.
– We’re passing the gate! This is where we go when we’re done! Can we be done?
I have to commend the 3 ½-year-old. Two days ago we were at a canter when the horses in the pasture decided to gallop to the fence line in anticipation of dinner. While he could have played the “I’m a green horse” card, he didn’t. He calmly slowed down to a walk and kept listening to me. And when things scare him, he might bend away or try to turn around, but it’s always very polite.
Yesterday I took him over a bright red ground pole and he didn’t even bat an eye. I think the next time I ride him I may walk him over two or three poles. We’ll just have to see what sort of conversation that initiates.
Back to The Near Side.
Hilarious!
So True.
haha green horses are so funny
You should be an animal communicator! You captured some great “conversations.”
hahaha reading this i had to laugh! I have a four year old who competed in his first show this weekend! Every little conversation is something that I have experienced while working with him! You’ve got to love the greenies!