I rode up the big hill but at the top, the trees were whipping around in the wind and as I dismounted, he spooked cuz I suppose the wind grabbed his rump rug. Other than one other spook he was fine, so I'll keep trying.
Ani has only done ground work with Rudi the last month, and Rudi has taken to rearing! She told me Rudi reared this morning when a black lab approached. That stupid dog attacked me and Mag today just a few minutes later, running through the snow barking continually and coming close enough to touch us. I stared into her eyes and said, "I dare you." That always seems to work, though I've been told staring dogs down can lead to trouble.
That lady, who lives up the street from me, is helpless to control her dog so it's surprising she lets it run free on their walks. She called and called and I just stood there with my body between it and Mag, protecting him. Mag could care less. When she finally got her dog, I said thank you. I've heard complaints from TP about that dog - TP has an Airedale puppy and when they run into the lab, it's never nice.
The temps dropped in the night so there is a layer of ice under the snow. I found myself standing on a thick sheet of ice, and suddenly both my feet started sliding backwards. I "gracefully" fell to the ground in slow motion and on my hands and knees, crawled to safety. Mag was smart enough to skirt the edges of that ice patch.
Mag drank from every mud puddle and sniffed every poop pile, and blew through his nose repeatedly while I rode. He seemed in a happy place, and I tried not to think about the wind+rump rug combo.
Almost home, Mag wanted to explore the shepherd's house. See, the shepherd's wife and kids left him, and he moved out of that big house. No more dogs on chains, that's nice. But he still rides his bike (with two dogs in tow) around the neighborhood, he must still live here. I know he's not allowed to drive a car. I suspect he lives in one of his old outbuildings. Well, Mag suspects something too.
He walked right up the driveway and stuck his face up to their living room window! I don't know if anyone is living there, but I was curious too. I pulled him away but Mag went to another window. I stood on my tiptoes and peeked through the dirty glass. Nope, just construction. Whew.
Then Mag started gnawing on the window sill! I guess he doesn't differentiate between trees, benches, and houses! I said, "Don't eat their house, Mag!" But snickered so he knew I was really amused by him.
The pics are from last Winter but this is what we've got.
5 comments:
I have a cluster of thoughts ... ani still cant ride and now the mare rears? This feels like insanity.
... rump rug is a great way of desensitizing. Keep up the great work!
... why were you so close to a house that Mag could chew on the window? Is this a German thing, like not ringing the doorbell? ;-)
Im glad you are getting more comfortable with the occasional spooks. He probably means you no harm but just gets reactive (Im spooky too).
I have a horse who believes he is perfect and the one thing that gets him flustered is when he thinks he has made a mistake. I certainly dont reward spooky behaviour but I try and find ways for him to be successful at something no matter how small when he gets reactive or flustered. Sometimes he just needs reassurance from me that “Ive got this”. Sounds like Mag might be similar.
So so so happy you got out to ride. Im also back out ridng on the trails and had a fabulous time doing transitions within the trot in snow packed powder trails. Nirvana.
ND, that is a very good question and something that really differentiates Germany from America. This house, and all the others on my street were built before the street existed. It was a trail, or some such. To make it easier to get out, they built the houses directly on the trail. In fact, almost every house on my street owns the property on the other side of the street! One house has their garage across the street! Almost everyone else's garden or field is across the street! I have no idea. I'm just glad I don't have to cross the street to get to my pasture (which was a separate property from our house, we had to buy two lots).
I think it also might have to do with the amount of snow. The closer you are to the street, the less shoveling? *shrug*
Funny that you mention it, Ani now only knocks when she visits for Star Trek Next Gen evenings. She's the only person who has ever knocked, and it delights me.
Wish we had some "powder trails" but we did our best. I just realized today that Mag is not the kind of horse that needs regular work to keep his brain together. He strode out as if I'd ridden him yesterday, not the pathetic 3 rides in the last 6 weeks!
I'm also spooky. Gosh, today as I was tacking up, a gust of wind hit a plastic yard waste bag and it was so loud I jumped. Mag didn't, so I peered at him, "Oh, you've heard that before have you? Well I haven't."
Do you have a blog?
You got to ride!!! Whoot, whoot, so happy for you. I bet Mags enjoyed it just as much as you. Eating the house, now that’s funny! . Poor Ani, I have to say, one rear would be quite enough for me! We’ve got ice, ice & more ice. Poor minions are stuck in the barn as the paddock it to dangerous. Luckily they have a large area to putz about in and stuff their faces non stop. Boot cleats have been my best friend.
Your snow/ice combination looks just like what we get. The temperatures sound all too familiar too :-) Lucky you though - to at least get out! I'm finding that living in a "town" is interesting - survey's have "changed" over the years & we too had to buy two additional lots to get the space we wanted.
Ha, shoveling. I did so much of that today!
Okay, so he isn't the kind of horse that needs regular work (although I betcha he LIKES regular work!) and that is a good thing. Yay, Mag!
I really worry about Ani's safety.
Post a Comment