Chagrined, I wondered if the novelty had worn off me and Mag.
Claudia showed up, and she'd offered to help me this week, if we're both there, but she got her saddle and her 4 Easyboots out and fetched her enormous warmblood Argo and I sighed, she didn't say anything about helping me, even though I had a saddle on Mag, and not just for looks!
She got on Argo and rode away.
As I lunged Mag, Birgit and Jasmin arrived but they just caught Wolke, did something with her and then 5 minutes later said goodbye. What? I asked why they're leaving and they said they simply have no time today.
Then Betinna showed up with Kristine who owns the Fjord I secretly rode and they both went and caught their horses and saddled them and rode off together.
A little sad, I took Mag to the indoor and worked him there, and then in the outdoor for an hour, doing every exercise I could think of with him. After last time I was on guard for his tricks but of course he was perfect, simply cuz I was daring him to be bad again. I had fun with him and made it easier as I realized he's not gonna misbehave.
He was sweaty under his girth (wow, sweat on my horse!) so I brushed him and walked him around the property cuz I don't like to put a Winter blanket on a damp horse. I let him graze and saw Claudia leading Argo back home again after her ride.
Back at the barn I said, "I'll be here tomorrow, too, and hopefully you can help me, if you have time. I only need 10 minutes, I don't need much."
She said, "You should have said something! I didn't know what your plan was today, so I didn't ask, but I would have helped you if you'd asked!"
Then Bettina heard her and came over, "Me too, I would have helped if you'd have asked." (Really....you obviously had a riding-date with a friend!)
It felt good though that they were both scolding me for not being more forward.
I got Claudia's number in my phone and told her we'd try for tomorrow afternoon before the hoards of kids show up.
Then Claudia and I compared our wool saddle pads, she has one of those ultra fancy Christ pads with memory foam like a Skito. I was brushing mine with a slicker and trying to decide if my things were too wet to lock into the tack locker or should I bring my girth home....that outdoor does have some puddles and I like to make Mag splash through them as much as possible.
It is so nice to just sit there and talk about tack idly.
Bettina came over as I blanketed Mag finally and she said, "He's a really fine horse, you know. And so friendly!" I said, "You think so? Hey, I sent the photos of Ducky to my friend in America and she enjoyed them - I wanted you to know she's a Traber rider and accomplished the most miles on a Traber last year. OH, and you have my shirt! The shirt I bought at your shop!" Kristine said, "No kidding, that is really funny, so long ago!"
Willy has a motorized wheelbarrow and Mag has never seen it up close in action so as it was rolling along loudly on its tank tracks, I asked Mag to trot behind me as we caught up to him, and then we scared him as we appeared over his shoulder. He said, "Mag's not afraid of this!?" *laugh* I guess not!
If I could complain a little, keeping it real, Mag fidgets a lot while tied, because he feels he has to keep track of everything. He respects me as I groom him, and moves over politely, but he is not standing there calmly, not normally. Also, as I worked him today his attention was totally divided. He did what I asked, but had his ears on what was going on outside the arena the entire time. I got his attention when we did in-hand sidepassing and such, but trotting over poles, his brain was elsewhere. He's really good for the most part, but he's definitely a baby in a new exciting place.
I'm surprised that he still seems happy to see me every day, because I take him away from his food, and ask him to work. But today he greeted me with a nicker, "It's you!" and I was happy. It could be he wants out of that paddock, but since he's not really thrilled about being tied to the wall alone at the barn....it confirms my theory that he is easily bored and needs stimulation, even if it's in the form of work.
I didn't touch another horse today and my husband recognized immediately that I smelled like our horse tonight. : )
I found these ice patterns on my barn. I have never seen anything like this before! How gorgeous.
I wanted to ask if this is something that happens in Canada? I'd never seen it in Washington.
5 comments:
Well, so you didn't have help but you DID have a good day with your horse. Again: progress!
That ice pattern is called "fern frost" and I get it on my windshield! There's information about the formation here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frost
Yes, we do have that happen in many parts of Canada.
Aarene, it is a fractal, like a fern is a fractal. I'd never seen this before. How cool! Also, I prefer RAIN.
We get that frost here in Ohio. Mainly on my kitchen window, I love it except that it means it's cooooold! I'd have a hard time asking for help myself, even from my husband. Him mainly because he hasn't a clue lol. With Christmas so close, I imagine many simply have errands on their mind as well. Glad you had a good day with Mags despite it not being in the saddle. I recall being told to saddle Grace to work rather I rode or not.
Yes, Arabian deficit disorder. There is a part of the Arabian mind that is always going. I used to tell people that Khanalee was very aware of his social obligations. All my Arabians were the same way, although Khanalee was perhaps the worst. I'd take him to rodeo events here to get him out, and he'd always get out of the trailer with his head up, snort, tail alert. The rodeo horses would just get off the trailers,hardly aware and totally bored. The first time I took Maguire to such an event, I lead him around to see things,and he passaged as we went along, everyone staring at him. When I saddled him and went to get on, I realized I had an audience, everyone wondering who would get on such a horse. He was good though. In fact, at one point, I saw a golf cart driving by behind him, and he didn't notice. Whew! Khanalee always thought 4 wheelers were demons from the darkest part of hell and would even watch them when they were very far away on the horizon. Arabians have their own set of neurons when it comes to the environment. Mag is still so young. 6 is a good age for an Arabian. He sounds like he is slowly improving. Good on you!
Post a Comment