Here's a story from Janice's more subdued twin, Jenny: Before I tell you what fun things I did today, let me first acknowledge that yes, I know that taking a horse through a very narrow, cluttered passageway overgrown with blackberry vines is stupid, especially when said horse is saddled already.
I am just getting used to this new barn that we moved our horses over to, and the surrounding area offers, shall we say, plenty of 'spook' training opportunities for our horses. The pasture and barn that they are in is great, but the aforementioned stupid alleyway that I decided to use to access my horsetrailer is awful! ......NOT safe. But, it is at least twice as close as the proper gate that a sane person would have led their horse through to get them loaded. So; I walked into it with my unsuspecting mare and Whammy! I was reminded of why I love this mare. She calmly, and relaxed-ly took sqeezing through little tiny doors, with rattly latches that caught on the stirrups, stood calmly still, while I removed large noisy sheet metal trash monstersand garbage cans, and carefully picked out her own path through an area CROWDED with old radial arm saws and car doors, etc. on a loose lead. I would have taken her back out to the other gate, but once we were into the bad stuff, the alley was too narrow to turn her around in and we were committed! The final thing that made me happy was her walking through the last door ( we are going through abandoned dairy barns, here) which was overgrown ,to the point that I couldn't fit, with heavy blackberry vines. She went willingly forwards, and then got several thick berry vines around one hind fetlock. She stopped with her leg extended far behind her, and waited patiently for me to carefully unhook her and slide the loops off of her leg. Then, off we go, and all of this was an area that she hadn't ever walked before. This, THIS is why I am happy and willing to own short Haflinger horses !!!!! They seem to have far bigger hearts than most other honking great long-legged things that I have owned. The other horses that were left behind in the barn were continually whinnying, and , but she just buckled down and totally concentrated on what I asked her to do. This was a good example of what NOT to do with your horse, but By Golly! It's nice to be able to if you HAVE to. This is a usable horse. Then, we went off and had a great ride. I haven't been riding this mare for about 2 months, as she had a rock bruise that lamed her for a while. What a blast!It has been pretty cold here, for the Northwest, Temps in the low 20's at night, so everything was frosted over. We went through the woods, she had to lead for the second time on a trail, as the other rider was riding her horse on a trail for the first time, and we were (!) the "pickup horse". Ha. A case of the blond leading the blind?........ :) She was a trooper, as usual. This was the first time that she totally got the concept that she is to go forward on the trail WITHOUT trying to troll for grass or leaves at the same time. Heh heh. Every time she wanted to stop and snatch a bite, I made her speed up and trot or canter. Worked like a charm. Suddenly, trying to eat on the trail didn't get her a short pause to chew, while I dragged her head around, it got her a swift kick and the command to trot on!!!!!Why did it take me so long to figure that out? :) The view was incredible, and we had a ball. Looked at cows and squirrels and birds and deer and coyotes and dirtbikes. Very nice, and most everything was frosted over and white, sun shining through the trees making everything seem to clean and bright. --Even the cows, and we all know how difficult THAT is! She walked over ice and crunchy frozen brush for the first time, and threatened a couple of innocent trail markers, and generally had a good time. DD started moving off of my weight alone, and after a couple of swift jogs up the trail to discourage the idea that trail blazing wasn't the same thing as trail grazing, I just gave her her head, and went along for the ride. I love how solid she feels at this stage, after only 8 trail rides, and rather minimal pasture/arena time. I guess I'll keep her. :)=) * That road cart is almost completely refinished, hurrah! And not only I, but my marriage survived it!!! I swear, people that havent even driven a carriage shouldn't think that they get to pick out their wife's cart stain color!!! Unless they have actual taste in such things! Sheesh. It has wheels, so he must know more about choosing colors, huh?! Yours, Jenny Rausch in Vancouver, Wa. where for a change, it is sunny and her husband is stoutly protesting his innocence in any cart-color-choosing felony charges being brought against him. This is the man who thinks that grey goes with everything! He refuses to answer me when I ask him if grey goes with orange! Well, DOES it?! How about chartreuse?? Huh? Judy http://icehorses.net
