I tried my endurance saddle on her but it did not fit so sadly I had to ride Western. Ugh, my poor knees! And you all know how much I love split reins (not at all) - I am so clumsy with them. They had to laugh, "You're American, we thought you'd be happy to ride Western."
I have to admit the mare looked great in Western tack, but that makes me think she'll look even better in English: )
Well she took her to the road and trotted her up and down between the pastures and even cantered her loudly on gravel. I was like "Wow she's brave!" Such a young horse with less than a year under saddle, cantering on the road!
Then I got on and ooh she's taller than Baasha but somehow I made it up without a mounting block or total humiliation.
The mare tensed for a moment like, "What!?" (Had anyone else ever ridden her? I forgot to ask.)
Then she was fine and I had to think about my reins for a moment.
I look forward to many more photos. Michi kept complaining that it was the absolute worst time of day to photograph but what could we do.
Yah we did have some spooks and I did keep my trot tempo slow and cadenced so I did not experience a power trot but that trot was really cushy - a real sitting trot horse if I ever feel like it: ) And she gave me the impression of power, a lot more forward if I was brave enough.
We went over a bridge over a highway and she was fine with that (oh my!) and we went through a tunnel so black it brought me right back to that railroad tunnel back home (but this was not nearly as long). I was pretty scared, I said, "Um, I cannot see ANYTHING AT ALL in here!" and the lady said, "Don't worry, I ride her in here alone and she's fine." OK then.
They have some marvelous training hills and the horses worked up quite a sweat (it was also almost 30 degrees out (88?)). A couple times the mare cantered and I brought her back the first time and the second time I let her.
I asked how on earth the people in North Germany train for endurance where it is so flat. She said "Oh they don't - they put them in trailers and come down here! Our race horses are three months ahead of the northern horses in their conditioning on arrival at the track, just from living here."
Overall I really enjoyed myself despite not being completely at ease (that takes time).
Unsaddling I was surprised at how sweaty the mares were. We sponged them off and I had a really fun time doing that because it's been a long time.
They treated her ankles but then told me the vet said it's photo sensitivity, not scratches. Oh dear. If she's got LV (Pastern Leukocytoclastic Vasculitis)....that is a chronic condition, she might have to have her legs protected from the sun for life if it's that.
They invited me up to the terrace for coffee and a look at her Equidenpass (registration papers/pedigree/vet treatment booklet). We had a nice time talking, watching the foals play below. Aren't foals funny when they try to eat grass?
It was a great day.
Later I contacted the breeder (these people own the father and are selling her; the breeder where the mother lives is another Russian Arabian farm). I want information about her medical history and I want to know if she has a history of LV. I saw pictures of the mare as a baby and the mother too. The mother looks just like her. Of course - she looks nothing like Prognoz.
She's not typy, she barely looks Arabian to me, but that is not such a priority with me at this point.
I still want to try out other horses but it's really tough finding non-greys around here. I'll keep trying.
They've invited me back to ride again and I might take them up on it.
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15 comments:
Sounds like a lovely young mare. I forget--Is she in a doable price range for you? Or are you just "window shopping"?
And hey--I know the tunnel of which you speak! Boyleston, right? On the Milwaukee Rail Trail? That's just about 10 miles from me. There are a few more outside of Thorp that the club goes through at times--but they've been closed this year--no problem with the tunnels, but a bridge approaching them was undermined in the flooding last spring. And no, Kate and I haven't yet gone through any.
She sounds like a lovely mare. I think you should definitely ride her again. I think it takes three rides (at least for me) to settle and feel like you've figured each other out. She is just beautiful, typy or not.
She's very pretty. I love bays.
So, how would you say her name? Vees-zhe?? Or am I way off? I've never heard of this LV. Does it get worse?
It sounds like they have a great training program.
I like this mare. I'm glad that you said she spooks, otherwise I'd be thinking you'd finally found a Sensible Arab!
Keep us posted on the photosensitivity thing. Toad had a mild problem with it--if he ate (white) alsike clover (which I probably just spelled completely wrong) and then got a lot of sunshine, he would get a rash that almost looked like warts--on his whitewhitewhite nose! Sunscreen helped a bunch, and also, of course, we lived in the Swamp so that sunshine wasn't usually an issue!
I like her and sounds like you had a nice ride on her. She seems like she has lots of sensible training on her even if its only a years worth. Kinda nice they ride her alone and she is comfortable being a little ways away from other horses. I cant imagine going through a tunnel, Im sure the first time was quite an adventure! Definitly go back to try her again if you are serious about her.
She has such a pretty face/head! I think she looks 'typy'...but then again, I have Haflingers!! Anything else would look refined next to them!
I've heard of camera shy, but photo sensitivity?
She is lovely, and goes nicely under western tack! How funny that they presumed you'd be a full on western rider.
I love split reins. Took me a month, but now they are my favorite.
I was told once that holes show up in an arena, that on a trail, the trail is really in charge. I found it confusing, but perhaps it's true...
Where is she in the pecking order?
Wow - it sounds like the mare is really nice. Your ride must have been very good - and fun! I am jealous of the great places you have to ride even when just trying out a new horse. Green with envy!
I hear you about the split reins. I can't remember and I lose one. I think last time I rode in a western bridle, I just tied them - I know that is wrong.
My favorite part of the mare is how her muzzle follows you down to the grooming box and how she kept trying to breath your breathe. That is affectionate and that means she will be good to you, I think.
Evensong, you know the tunnel: ) I thought I could do it without a flashlight cuz I was cool. But that was stupid, I had a panicked as soon as I heard other horses behind me and realized they couldn't see me. I was also dizzy and had to hold onto my saddle. But nothing bad happened, and the next time I used a light!
Annette, well if you say so, I'll have to go back then!
FV, they say the name Vishy. Horrid, huh? LV can get very bad but it sounds like it's manageable. Funny that I've never heard it affecting grey horses (even though Baasha has 4 pink legs). Bays and paints is all. I phoned today about another bay horse for sale and the lady said, "Well she's healthy except for what looks like scratches, despite this dry weather" so I was able to tell her what that is. Look it up if you're curious. I had a heck of a time finding out what it's called in German so I could tell the owners.
Aarene, interesting that Billy had it. I never knew that. I find it strange that it affects bays so often! Funder says not to worry, just watch the diet and use sunscreen. You guys have calmed me down a bit: )
Crystal, I will have to go back, also I want to see her worked thru her arena issues and just deal with that environment.
Dreaming, my photographer friend said, "oh dear, she's not refined like Baasha at all!" No, but she has a great deal more substance.
Breathe, that's really interesting about the arena. I will insist that she works in there then, at least for lunging. Where she is in the hierarchy, well, they say she's low but it really doesn't matter because any horse is gonna push Baasha around, except a foal: ) As long as the horse doesn't chase Baasha laps like Sharif did, I'll just have to separate for feeding.
Juliette, if it helps, the trails were so rocky I wonder if Easyboots are an option. We have it bad here - large jagged rock. Of course there are grooomed sand bridle paths in the cities but they are high-use. I was touched, she just kept following me with her nose in curiosity. I don't like crouching down under a strange young horse but she was just so sweet!
I have to go try some other horses for comparison sake. I have 4 more on my list.
Oh glorious riding a bay mare day! I like.hearing how sensible she seemed to be and her handler saying, " oh we do that all the time"...very nice looking mare. Her eye is very true and kind. Love her following you.
Go back, yes...more time with this one.
How exciting!
I like this mare...there's something to be said about a horse so young being so calm and level headed. That's why I bought my young horse!!
Can you tell me what the difference in Photosensitivity and scratches are??
You guys look great together, I think she is a lovely mare. And for her age, she seems sensible and pretty well adjusted. You need more rides on her, and we need more pictures. :)
What a gorgeous horse. Wow.
kacy, i will go back, but i hope to see 4 others too so i don't make a hasty decision. i feel blinded by her color, isn't that bad!
minus pride, i know - i didn't want a horse this young but if she's really that easygoing..the diff between scratches and LV - the main way to tell without a biopsy is the environment and location. since it has been dry this past month, and there is no mud at all in her pasture, it's extremely odd to see scratches. also the scabs are not located on the back of the pastern where water collects - rather on the side, where the sun burns. it is a common yet not well known condition often treated wrong.
kbryan, more pics to come!
dom, well you're surrounded with some amazingly pretty brown horses yourself: )
Aww what's wrong with Baasha? I like his name! Of course I have no idea what it means. Wiszi on the other hand is pretty bad lol. She sure is gorgeous though and she looks so sweet. Your friend did a fantastic job with the pictures.
Oh, I don't know much about photo sensitivity. Is that a deal breaker?
It sounds like the ride went well. I love a confident horse and she sounds like one. :)
Also is it really that bad having a gray horse? Chrome is going to go gray and I wince every time you mention how you really don't want another gray. Is it just because they get dirty so easily? I'm getting more used to the idea, but I'm still going to miss him being this color.
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