>>> My name is Pamela Nolf and I am a new member to the group. I live in the Bremerton, WA, area (a 1 hour ferry ride almost directly west across the Puget Sound from Seattle). I moved here from the Philadelphia area about 1 1/2 years ago. My Icelandic horse is named Blessi and I have been lucky enough to have him for 3 years.
Welcome to the list, Pamela! Do you have any pictures of Blessi? >>> We were participating in the novice tolt class and I had permission to ride the class at a walk--it was a small class. Well the announcer said "Put your horse into a tolt" and Blessi must have thought he heard the "Big Trainer in the Sky" say tolt and he went into a beautiful smooth tolt--which is strange because he prefers trot over tolt. Anyway, my fear caught up with me and I checked him to a walk. We should have gone with it. One thing I DON'T think you'll get much of here on this list, is pressure to do more than you are comfortable with. If you weren't comfortable going faster in an unfamiliar area, AND in front of a crowd, then you did the right thing by waiting to tolt. For most of us over-50-types, owning horses isn't about winning anyway. It's about enjoying our animals, learning to become better horsemen, having fun, enjoying nature, etc. A lot of the most credible "big names" in training (Lyons, Parelli, etc.) will tell you things like, "ride where you can, not where you can't." Linda Parelli says all the time, if you have any doubts about being able to stay on your horse, then get off. What YOU are comfortable with is something between you and your horse. Good for you for admitting you were afraid. I think the worst thing you can do for fear is to deny it, and force yourself into situations you aren't ready for, too quickly. Give yourself time to ease yourself over your fears; he's a young horse and you should have him a long time, so what's the rush? :) Again, welcome to the list. Karen Thomas, NC No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG Free Edition. Version: 7.5.488 / Virus Database: 269.15.3/1082 - Release Date: 10/20/2007 2:59 PM
