Pony party day!

I woke up this morning excited, today was pony party day! I had been waiting over a month for this day. A casual play day for horses in our neighborhood.

It was not as exciting for my man to get ready for this event. I had the horse saddled and tied to the fencepost waiting as my man shaved. New batteries in the camera, check.



I forgot the helmet! I had to run back home to get it, leaving my man with Baasha on the corner.

When we arrived, I realized that most of the other contestants were kids! Oh dear. I thought, it's OK, I only want my man to compete today in the "Spouse competition" that I sort of invented with Kerstin, the organizer. My man was not thrilled. I told him how long I worked getting Baasha's mane and tail and coat (and hooves) perfect for his ride. He was nonplussed. I knew I needed the incentive of other competing husbands, to induce him.

When we arrived, Kerstin told me to let Baasha loose in one of their gigantic stalls. His favorite pony gelding, Grisu, stood at the doorway, being groomed by a group of little girls. They were putting ornaments into his mane.

I unsaddled Baasha in that stall, and let him loose. He rushed to greet Grisu, and they began their "grab lip" game again, to the annoyance of the kids trying to tease his forelock to stand straight up.

They pulled Grisu away, out of reach, sadly, and I watched the pony mare in the next stall switch her attention to Baasha and begin to exert her dominance. Her ears were pressed so far back into her mane, it was as if she had none. Her eyes were constantly threatening, and she bared her teeth at Baasha, the stranger, giving him no peace.






He stood just out of reach of her teeth, looking over the stall door amicably, at all the pony decorating going on.









Rainbow ribbons in manes, flowers in tails, no kidding! Daisy chain manes, these ponies were done up proper for a pony party! This is the tiniest one of all, named Troll, and our favorite.








He is the nicest one, never flicking an ear at Baasha, and I mentioned to Kerstin afterwards, if he needs a home someday....









I really want to get photos of me doing normal things like bridling, grooming, mounting, rasping feet, and even cleaning up poop. These are things I do so often, I want photos that reflect real life. I said to the profi photographer, "Please take a pic of me bridling!" Of course if I'd had foresight, I would have brought my leather dressage bridle so we wouldn't look like a Zilco ad.


Then Ingo called attention. Ingo is the firechief who rescued Baasha from the bridge in May--how I came to know these people.

He wanted to list the tasks the riders would be doing, and name all of the riders. My man said, "You're on the list." I said, "No, you are. I came here to volunteer. To help. And you are to ride. Not me."

I was on the list.

So I rode.

But if I had to ride....then so shouldn't my man?

The Competition

As I stood watching the kids do the various tasks in this Trail Horse Trust Test, my horse became more and more agitated. He stood next to me, but only barely. I heard a plaintive whinny from the barn, and realized that bitchy mare was calling to him! And he was calling back! Every so often he let out a muffled half-cry, knowing he shouldn't, and Baasha's cries are so high pitched, like adolescent squeals, everyone in the audience turned to look at him. He pawed the air and I waited. I made him stand still.

My man stood next to me, supportingly, saying, "BAASHA!" whenever Baasha got upset enough to let out a half-whinny. I was nervous. I thought, How strange that I am at this kids' party, and I am sure nothing bad will happen, but my horse is such a freak that I may have to be embarrassed in front of all of these people!

As pony after pony completed each test calmly, and Baasha strained over my shoulder better to call to his mare friend, I said to Kerstin, "Can my horse have some of the drugs you have your ponies before they competed?" hehehe

But....thankfully....given enough time, Baasha calmed down. He started looking at the ground for grass.

He looked at the numerous ponies who kept coming to the arena fence to do tasks in front of us. He blinked at them sweetly.

Our turn

I thought, "I can do this!"

I took him to the center of the arena, right next to a pony who I thought would be able to comfort him. I had his saddle unnecessarily tight from our recent mounting fall. I mounted.


Somewhere in the middle of mounting, the little pony next to us turned demonic. He was supposed to be our helper, our companion in an area we are unfamiliar with (horses must compete in pairs). He let fly with both hind feet, despite the fact that a little girl was on his back (safely helmeted, booted, and parent at the pony's face). I felt Baasha jump as I settled back, and felt the impact of two tiny rear hooves in his side.

No way, that did not just happen. Everyone was in awe, the audience was freakin out, I assume in concern for the pony's rider. But she was experienced, and rode out the bucking with no problem. I asked if my horse was OK. They said he lost some skin. I said, "Let me walk him a bit" and he was OK.

Good grief, hell pony just put us in our place! (But secretly I was glad that my horse was not the naughtiest one.)

To be continued....