Excellent babies

I am typing this whilst sitting in the middle of a window-rattling thunderstorm.  On Friday, we had a 40 degree temperature drop and miserable rain.  Trainer was out of town for the weekend and I was dreading riding, anticipating bored, spicy horses.

I am so happy to say that I was completely wrong about them.  And I wanted to use this post, not to whinge about the weather but to brag about my excellent babies.  As I’ve mentioned before, we share our barn with the collegiate equestrian team and they hold NCAA meets at our facility.  They hosted back to back meets over the weekend, during which no one else is allowed to ride or turn out.  Folks, that’s two days of no turnout or riding.  

On Friday evening, I was able to squeeze Dalton into a very short hack during the reset of the competition ring.  It was in the low 40s, windy, and completely dark out.  There were girls cheering and screaming from different parts of the property and tables / speakers / chairs / outdoor heaters were littered all around the arena.  Dalton looked around at all the hullabaloo (admittedly bug-eyed) and was tensed up, but we went straight into walk / trot around the competition dressage ring for 10 minutes WITHOUT ANY SPOOKS.  This horse has never been to a show before.  This horse is five years old.  This horse had been locked in his stall all day.  Since I’ve had him, I have never been prouder than during those 10 minutes.

The next day was sunny but still in the low 40s.  The college meet finished up at 4 pm, so I hacked both Mae and Dalton at sunset.  Both of them were perfect perfect perfect.  I rode Mae in the gloaming and she puttered around, just happy to finally get out of her stall.  I’ve ridden Mae in the outdoor arena at night without lights before, so I know she can behave in the dark but am so happy (and impressed) that she chose sanity.  At age 10, is she finally growing up and maturing??

I have had that horse that goes berserk when he/she hasn’t been turned out in two days.  Or when it’s windy out.  Or if there was a sign on the side of the arena.  Or if the jump standards are moved two feet off center.  I was pleased as punch that both of them kept their minds and manners through the absolutely insane weather and other activities that go on around the barn.

An absolute gem

Now I’ll just have to remember this feeling the next time the ponies are being brats.