I rode a horse

It's been a while. I am checking out lease horses in the area and found a lady with 5 Arabians and drove out of my way to see them.

I'm sorry I have no pictures but sometimes it's just not appropriate to be taking photos.

The lady herself--Elke--is kind of a space cadet, but that doesn't have to be a bad thing - the controlling types are really hard to deal with. She didn't really talk to me when I showed up - she was going over a barn schedule with a group of girls. I waited and waited and waited thinking How Rude, but then she handed her daughter 5 halters and told us to go get horses.

We brought all these nice Arabs out of their huge field and into a big open barn (the barn houses the horses in Winter but instead of stalls it's just one big open area with two doors going out to a paddock with a roundbale).

I still didn't really get an introduction or overview of the lease situation and I just stood there watching 5 girls groom 5 horses. Finally I walked over to the lady (who was still doing paperwork) and said, "So, which horse?" (See what I mean by space cadet - she didn't think about the fact she hadn't told me which horse!)

She said "The brown" and pointed at a bay with 3 white socks and a blaze. A plain headed, long backed mare with beautiful legs and hooves.

The lady said I was free to groom and go for a ride. OK then.

I did some head lowering exercises which the mare responded to, and bopped her with the brush for glaring at me a few times.

I did not like the way she stood like a statue the entire time. Her head was low and her eyes were wary and she looked just so unhappy. I got her to drop her head into my chest and loved on her a little bit but overall she seemed checked out.

I found I did not like grooming with other horses tied near enough to be in kicking range on both sides. When I did her feet I had to jump up a few times and start over because another mare moved her butt over. I am not used to having to watch out for 3 horses at a time within range while I do back feet.

They put endurance saddles on all the horses and I should mention how much I hate western stirrups, ugh, adjustments are never quick and easy.

The mare had a simple western snaffle bridle and long split reins.

We walked the horses out to a sand ring and I did some ground work with her.

I don't even know her name, I think it's Vidia.

It's been a while but I actually got on without a mounting block.

As I walked her around I realized she has no idea about half halts, and stopping her was a real challenge. She just assumed I wanted to go and when I gave her the signals to stop, she pushed right through them. I would half halt, sink my weight down and slighty back, and resist the motion until she stopped. Except she wouldn't stop. So I'd actually have to go to the reins. We did this over and over and over until she started listening to my weight and seat aids.

Then I got her backing, doing turns on haunches, some serpentines and circles, and then asked for a trot. I immediately quit the trot because it felt wrong. The saddle felt like it was perching me on her withers, and her gait was really really odd. I've ridden some horrid gaited horses ("Two-bra horses" we call them) but this was different. It was lurching and her feet pounded the ground. WTH. I'll have to come back to that.

It was incredibly windy out and tarps were flapping like crazy. Silage rolls' plastic was ripping free and slapping down violently. All the horses spooked in synchrony and I couldn't find my reins.

I'd only ridden a few times with split reins and I officially suck at using them as of today. I am not sure what to do with all that leather and when I need it, I'm not sure where to go for it! I eventually tied a knot so I wouldn't have an accident. So lame, I know!

I trotted again and just sat the trot cuz I couldn't figure it out.

Finally I walked over to the lady's daughter who was sitting on a bench watching and said, "Would you like to ride - I'd really like the chance to see her go with someone who knows her."

Elke joined me on the bench and we watched. As soon as that horse broke into a trot, my mouth fell open. What is that?

The suspension phase looked fluid and lovely, but when she hit the ground her legs would just pound down stiffly, it was really odd - all 4 legs. She was sound, you could see that, but I'd never seen a trot like that. Then I realized she sometimes does it at a walk, and the canter looks like something I don't need to try. Very long and stretched out and fast. I've ridden some bad canters but this one will be up there near the top of the list.

She had this dull look in her eye the entire time - they said she's lazy in the arena but good on trails. I wander if her attitude gets better outside.

Due to the wind, I asked if I could come back another time and go on a trail ride with the owner. I specifically want the owner to ride, because she did not today. She mentioned she has health issues and cannot ride much but if she can at all, I want to go out with her to get a feel for this situation.

I thanked the daughter for showing me her stuff, now I know why that trot felt so odd.

Elke said I can bring my own saddle next time and you can bet I'm gonna bring a set of normal English reins, that I cannot screw up or lose!

Elke laughed at me saying "You're American - I would think you could use Western reins!" It was funny, she's right.

I hate this not knowing, and I'm sick of riding strange horses that I never get a repoire with. That will change once I commit. But I cannot say yes or no about this mare, because I really don't know. I know that my best mare would have done the same thing if I'd ridden her in an arena, but it's the trails that will show me the answer.

Since that mare is a full half hour* from here, I'm gonna look a little bit closer. I was just hoping so much to find an Arab, ya know?

(* - In Seattle, a half hour would be nothing. But this is horse country. I drove past a dozen riding stables just getting there today.)

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Does anyone know what kind of grain that is in the photo? I have no idea. (Click to enlarge.)