First ride out with Moni

Remember the 8K Euro Haflinger mare that I blogged about a while back? She's still for sale but also for lease and Ani leased her immediately after Mira died.

The last time I rode out was in July, with Mira, and with Moni being 1. new to us and 2. young, I fought panic all morning.

We met up at the fish/duck/geese pond in the hole. Mag was fascinated by the geese and ducks squawking and flapping around in the water. I told him, "Water chickens, Mag*." Before too long I heard the alarmingly loud sound of shod hooves on pavement, in a rhythm I thought was a race to get to us. Mag froze in alarm as she came into view.

Gorgeous! A smallish (150cm) Haflinger with a rainbow-arch neck, and more mane and forelock than any two horses need. Her legs were amazing. Mag has great legs, but hers were better! Just less bone compared to body/weight, cuz Haflingers are so big-bodied.

Moni was indeed rushing, because that is what she does. Her owners like her fired up. I remember the day she was pulling a carriage by our house, and they stopped to chat. The entire time Moni fought to continue and he had his feet pushing on the brake with all his strength!

So I fretted internally.

When I got on Mag, I felt that awful feeling of dread wash over my entire body as soon as I hit the saddle, full-body shiveriness. "What will go wrong today?"

But Mag stood like a rock as always, even as Moni pounded her way down the trail, leaving us. *sigh* WORSE than Mira.....

To my amazement, Mag didn't get upset at being left behind, he was more interested in earning cookies for standing still. Gooooooood boy Mag! As I rode, I was very active in the saddle, flexing about and trying to keep my weight on my "pockets" - you cannot freeze up if you're in motion.

Finally Ani pulled up and tried to get the mare to wait for us, and that is sort of how we spent the day, reminiscent of how Mag has to wait for Momo to catch up.

Ani explained to me that there is a lot of "thoroughbred" blood in Moni, they breed hot blooded breeds like Arabians into Haflingers to make them more refined, which also makes them hot to ride. She never threatened to rear when asked to wait, but she danced and fussed like no Haflinger I've known. 

Mag and Moni are the same age - 7.

I was thrilled to see today how all my work has been for something - Mag will stop and stand on trail, and Moni cannot. Twice I asked Ani, "Can we stop for a moment (side by side)? I just wanna see if we can." We could. Moni could not, more than 2 or 3 seconds. The 2nd time we tried, and Moni danced around, foam drpping from her mouth, I told Ani, "You pay to ride her, but right now you're training her, teaching her to stop on trail. They should pay you for this."

Then again, I'm the weirdo who wants to practice this - most people don't see it as a skill worth teaching.

I offered Ani her bottle (this time, cherry Kool Aid!) and she replied, "I cannot take a drink while I'm on the horse, I've got my hands full here." *sigh* That makes me sad. Also, remember what I said about Germans and multitasking (yesterday).

At one point Moni peed and Mag smelled it and flehmened for a long time afterwards.

Mag was perfect our entire ride and I found myself enjoying myself as we turned onto my favorite trail. I was amazed at how he doesn't mind when Moni gets far ahead of him - no jigging! I jigged 25 years on Baasha and it would be so nice to not have to anymore.

I am starting to think my Prime Directive is really working.

My Prime Directive

The horse goes down the trail as calmly as possible, able to stop and wait as long as I ask. The horse can be   tied up for a picnic/geocaching. The horse never discovers a reason to hurry, and rushing is seen as a waste of energy. Switch the bottom of the dressage pyramid so Relaxation comes before Rhythm.

I'm working with his naturally lazy nature, which conflicts all that hot, hot blood in his veins. And guys I think it's working. Although I'm not delusional - I know I've made it easy on Mag this year, and if he's stressed, he will attempt to rear with me and fuss and spin......and if we're off trail (or not) he'll kick at anything that touches (or pretends to touch) his hind end.

Just, today was awesome, after over a month off, so I'm basking in it.

The only thing wrong today was my fault and I apologized so often he got tired of hearing it.

I over trimmed his hooves, and it has rained on and off lately, so his feet were tender on rocks today. Bad enough that he hugged the edges of the trail, putting me in the trees and bushes the way  Mira used to do with Ani. Moni had shoes all around and clattered right over the rocks in the *center* of the gravel roads, that must have been a great feeling for Ani after years of tree branches in her face!

We finally parted ways and when we hit the last section of gravel, Mag just stopped. "No more rocks for me today."

I got out his Easyboots and hammered one on, to see if they still fit. They do. Next time, we go booted. I feel awful because Mag was on his best behavior today, and I made it uncomfortable for him.

But he seems to forgive me because for no reason at all, he galloped to me across the entire pasture, as if to say, "Better now!"

PS - the tail! Remember how I wrapped it up in a sock a few days ago? I cracked up laughing when I took it out because it looked exactly like a My Little Pony tail! It even had a fake, plasticy feel! It was wavy like Marilyn Monroe (and just as yellow). I'll have to do it again and take a photo next time. My husband has my camera today.

* - Remember the chimpanzee who learned American Sign Language and learned to improvise/create words? She named a swan "Water bird." Blew my mind too.



19 August 2018