I ride a PRE.....oh, and Mag!

I was determined to ride today if anyone would just please show up and want to use the arena! I had his saddle on, my helmet on, and the wait began.

Before that though, the trailer loading went very well today even though Mag got rowdy on the way to the trailer because - gasp - a horse walked by! Tail over his back, prancing, I slammed on the brakes and backed him up. It's frustrating to me how excited he gets about daily life at a big barn.

He walked into the trailer (front completely closed, no windows) and ate and ate and ate his beet pulp. It helps that since Willy is in Poland for vacation, Mag isn't getting as much hay during the day and is STARVING TO DEATH whenever I arrive. Almost forgetting his manners trying to get to food. Perfect timing for me, Mag sees the trailer as the delightful warm mash place, steamy goodness filling up the entire trailer. A few minutes later I backed him out and we visited the school horses where I gave out some treats, and then back to the trailer and before I asked, he jumped in without me. That's nice, but I hadn't even asked.

It only took about 10 or 15 minutes total today and he never left the trailer on his own (starvation?) even when Moritz came over to use the little ring by the trailer, with Jasmin and Birgit. It was like for the first time Mag just wanted to be in the trailer. Progress. Yes, eventually the food will have to go, but I'm gonna use it as long as possible!

Despite wind gusts blasting the arena walls he was very calm today so we did lots of slow precise work and walking over poles and just a few requests to canter to prove he wouldn't bolt off bucking like yesterday (yesterday sucked!). I think he doesn't really like the heavy jangling of the metal nosepiece of the lunging cavesson, but I explained to him there are way, way worse things in life than heavy jangly things on his nose. Deal with it Mag. Bettina said that she cannot put such a thing on her horse Alex because he will not stand it. I think Mag can handle it. If he fusses much I'll explain spurs and tie-downs to him.

Birgit's head popped up over the arena door and Mag spooked directly into me - jumping a full meter to the side and would have knocked me flat if I'd been any closer. He completely forgot I existed at that moment. Birgit felt so bad but no worries, that can happen any time to any horse, and I was fine.

Gabi was having a family Christmas party for 2nd Christmas day (there are two here). Lots of people showed up in fancy clothes. From time to time people would come by the arena and watch me and Mag and explain to their children about why the horse is going over the poles and such. I was trying to work on the head down cue while lunging but it was pretty hard for Mag with all the distractions.

I started to think no one was going to come use the arena tonight, and I'd tacked up for nothing, when Eike came with her PRE horse Diego. At that moment Mag lost his mind and started frolicking and leaping and trying to switch directions (but he can't cuz of the lunging cavesson!) and she asked if she could come in and I said, "Give me TWO SECONDS" and I made him work hard for a few more than 2 seconds. Then I brought him down to a jog and he was as calm as ever like nothing had happened.

She invited all their party guests into the arena and brought Diego in.

She told me they'd be doing some pony rides. I thought, "Perfect!" and then she told her guests, "You need to know it is very important to stay away from that horse there, Mag. He is young and unpredictable and you need to keep clear away from him at all times. Be very careful when you come in." (There is a tiny little fence (rope) dividing the arena from the observer section, which is just a bunch of benches and chairs.)

Mag did his AUDIENCE thing, wow, look, people, so many, all looking at me, and why?

As soon as the first little kid got up on that big Spanish horse, I went to the people and asked, "Can you please hand me that white tack there on the bench?" Some guy was sitting on my bridle and gave it to me. I quickly swapped cavesson for bridle and got the mounting block.

I stood on it, rubbing Mag's neck and butt and wiggling the saddle around like I always do, and then I got on, with spectators right there. I felt very safe, with all those observers 10 feet from us. Then I  breathed for a while, and then asked Mag to back out of the corner we were in because I'd left the poles and I didn't want to take him over them immediately. He had to back up a few meters and then I shouted to Eike, "We are going to ride around but I will stay clear out of your way, no worries. I am going to use you a little."

I kept Mag a full 20 meters away from Diego almost the entire time, in respect for Eike who needed to keep the kiddies safe. The parents walked alongside Diego holding onto their helmet-clad kids. I listened to Eike's non-stop horsey explanations and was amused and even laughing a few times. If I relaxed too much, Mag would come to a stop, and I had to nudge him forward again.

But he was calm, and I was OK. My first time riding there without someone at his head.

As they stopped to switch kiddies, we stayed way back and I'd give Mag a treat as a reward for standing calmly.

I loved how Eike was letting the braver kids turn around on the horse and slide down his rump to dismount, into a parent's arms. I kept giggling and Mag understands my giggle by now.

A few times he swung his head to my foot, and I realized he was asking for a treat! I said, "You'll never get a treat by asking for one like that." I'm not a vending machine.

Then Eike put a father up on Diego and I laughed so hard as he struggled to climb up on that horse. She only had a bareback pad on - cuz that's safer maybe? - so she taught each person how to be given a leg-up on a horse for the first time. Her horse is not small, so it was funny.

As this father rode around she pointed to me and said, "Look at Mag's rider, how her ear, shoulder, elbow, hip, and heel are in alignment. Try to do that." I thought, "Really, am I in alignment?" I haven't given any thought to equitation for way too long.

Gabi stuck her head over the door and said, "B, I'm about to let all the horses out to return to their stalls for the night, just so ya know." And I jumped off Mag so fast his head swung up and hit me in the helmet. Good thing I have this helmet on.

I praised him and rubbed him and loosened the girth and we started hearing hoofbeats as horses happily descended the concrete path to their stalls. Whew, thankfully she warned me! I love the consideration they grant me with Mag. Almost everyone knows to give Mag space and allow us time and warnings.


"WHO'S NEXT FOR A RIDE?" Eike shouted and finally everyone was done and I said, "ME?"

She said, "Of course!"

Then I took a chance and gave Mag's reins to a parent and asked in formal German if she'd hold him. She was thrilled, I think she was really thrilled to be holding the "baby" horse's reins, especially as he gazed on full alert to the sound of the descending herd, but held still like a good boy.

Eike tried to give me a leg up on Diego and again, I fell apart, embarrassed about how heavy I am, and gave up. She said, "Let's go again" and I said, "Yes but I'm 80 kilos and ...well, ok, but you must COUNT this time!" Count to three, so I know when to jump. That time it worked, and I fully expected the audience to laugh out loud at me for my clumsiness but no one did.

Then Eike threw me the lead rope and said, "You don't need me. You can ride." (How on earth she'd think I can ride is a mystery to me.)

Her horse was done for the evening, he knew it, so he just turned toward the gate as soon as I urged him on. I had only a lead rope on the left side, and he was happy to just turn left facing the gate, no matter what seat and leg cues I have, and no matter the neck reining. That huge neck, of course not!

Finally he figured out I meant business, cuz when he'd circle left I'd just tighten the circle and we'd o a complete 360 and I'd ask him for straight again. Oh man she's got my number, he thought, and I had a nice little ride on him. I wanted to trot but would have wanted a rope on both sides for that.

I enjoyed the feeling of this massive horse beneath me, and made sure Mag was behaving as I enjoyed. Then I realized I was having fun on another horse I did not know at all.

But I trusted him. I knew he was not going to ruin my day. I just had fun on his back and  I realized I'm not a fearful rider.

I just get uneasy on green horses. And I hate that I am not helping Mag by this feeling that he also feels. I wish I could offer him complete trust and confidence. But I need time to develop that.

I'm reading a book, "Fear free riding" and I realize I'm not a fearful rider, just wary with my own horse (how pathetic). But the book says we need to afford ourselves the time and patience we strive to offer with our horses, when it comes to things like trailer loading training. We don't expect them to get it immediately, it's scary. We go slow. But with ourselves, we push past fear and do not acknowledge it. The book says the most damaging quote in horsedom is "Courage is being scared to death but saddling up anyway." That is not the way to overcome fear.

But the book - and the lovely PRE and Fjord horses of this month  - have shown me I am not fearful of riding in general. And I'm happy about that.

Then, on the way home, I got blitzed again. WTH! This time cuz I ran a yellow light. I cannot believe it! I am the slowest driver in Germany! My husband did not want to hear about my lovely ride on Mag and then Diego, he was shaking his head at me. I know, they'll take my license away at this rate!

I have this suspicion it's cuz my brain is full of barn on the way home from the barn. *shame*