On my spoiled boy


Last week, my entire family and B turned up to watch one of my jump lessons with Ryon, which is the first time my parents have seen me in a horseback riding lesson in the past 20 years.  They were adequately impressed, the way Asian parents are where they won’t tell you how proud they are but instead take loads of pictures and video.

It got me thinking about how far Ryon and I have come since his first summer in Dallas in 2014.  Back then, each flinch, spook, and head toss was a message that I honed in on - one that I heard as if through loudspeakers.  I’d try to decipher his body language - oh he’s mad at me because he’s eating dinner late today.  Ryon would wiggle and wobble all through the arena, refusing to pick a direction or listen to any of my suggestions on where to go.

Now I don’t make a note of each head toss, stomp, and tail whisk and can even occasionally get him to execute a perfect 20 meter circle or even a straight line.  Sometimes (a lot of times) he still acts up because he’s ornery - pissed off that he’s in a barn with all these animals - and sometimes he’s a pleasant, even-tempered, sort-of-sweet horse.  My trainer and I remark that we don’t know what animal we’re going to get on a given day.

However, he is getting downright spoiled.  Every visitor earns him a cookie and head scratch.  B hunts down grass and clover for him to snack on after my lessons, and we’ve installed his THIRD box fan in his stall.  Now that he has a punk rocker look going on, I make a point of trimming his mane every few weeks.  He also gets a full shampoo and conditioner treatment on a weekly basis, in addition to the daily brush down with a natural bristle brush (and a separate softer brush for his face).  His “spa” treatment is more extensive than most Dallas women’s (and that’s saying something).

We go flying in our jump lessons on a weekly basis now.  He’s impatient over low jump courses and rushes through them, as though he knows if he finishes them quickly, he’ll get to move on to higher jumps.  My trainer and I are teaching him that he WILL get to jump the big ones eventually.  I can’t help but feel that it’s partly my fault.  I had a mental hang up at the intimidating three foot level, but since we’ve sneakily moved up, three feet doesn’t look so high anymore.  It’s officially hotter than hell in Texas now, so by the time we’re finished, both of us are drenched in sweat.  The horses have new turn out paddocks with large, plastic water troughs.  Ryon turns each of these into his own private kiddie pool and plants his front feet in them, spilling water all over in the process while he splashes about.

I’m sure next week - actually probably tonight - will bring a separate set of challenges from him that I haven’t foreseen.  I've learned to expect the unexpected, but despite the inconsistency of it all, I count it as my good luck that I get to spend my time sweating away with my spoiled boy.


Comments

  1. It sounds like you two made great progress (in a pretty short time) in being able to trust each other. Learning and working together must be very rewarding.

    During the early months, were you changing his eating habits (type/amount)? I know that usually puts a burr under my saddle. :)

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  2. I completely forgot to say (because I got wrapped up reading your non horse posts) - my Aunt has always had horses. My cousin has ridden them in competition her entire life. She rode on the national team last summer - I'll have to find a photo to share with you.

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  3. It's great to see how far you and Ryon have come, Rooth:) I still remember those early posts when you guys first got together. Looks like both of you have settled into a groove, with Ryon surprising you once in awhile just to keep you on your toes...hehe....

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  4. Goooo Ryon!! Make us proud :D And you're doing a fantastic job too
    Rooth, so patience and full of passion ^_^ Xx ICE PANDORA

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  5. I can't believe it's already been two years since you and Ryon have been riding together! Time sure does fly!

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  6. He is getting downright spoiled? Well, if I were a horse, that's the way I'd like things to be, Rooth. I'm sure he doesn't mind a few challenges as long as you keep spoiling him in turn;)

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  7. Oh Ryon.. you sweet spoiled boy :)

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  8. some animals deserve to be spoiled, and it seems to me that ryon is one of them! :)

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  9. He's so handsome -- how could he not be spoiled? :)
    And I love that your family was able to make it out for a jump lesson.

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  10. He's such a had some horse that he totally deserves to be spoiled. :)

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  11. It's amazing to see how in tune you are with Ryon and how well you know his personality (and I'm sure he knows a thing or two about you too!).
    And hey, Ryon has earned all those cookies and scratches- fair and square!

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  12. It's great to look back & see how far you've both come. A lot of sweat and tears! So cute, your parents' not saying they're proud but taking video instead.

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  13. Sounds like he has come a long way, I do remember those early posts you wrote about him being spooked by little things. He probably deserves to be spoilt!

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  14. hahaha...I love the Chronicles of Ryon.

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