Week Three

Day 15: (Sunday) Today was very exciting for me, my Awesome Rider Friend, and Surya. No one was at the barn except me and ARF, and it was very quiet. We tacked Surya up and decided to go to the outdoor arena. Everything was going great up until the point I went to mount up, and the neighbors started firing guns. Surya was not pleased, to say the least. But, and this is simply evidence of what a wonderful amazing horse she is, she did not try to run off, but merely stood tense and anxious, staring in the direction of the offending firecrackers. We adjourned to the indoor arena. Surya started out vey keyed up, but settled down through the ride. We mostly just stuck to trotting, as we were experiencing technical difficulties in transitioning to and maintaining a canter. After my ARF applauded our Olympic-level riding and I cooled her off, we bribed Surya into her new stall with dinner. As soon as we closed the door to her stall, Surya appeared to deliberately submerge her head in her water bucket and then fling it around like a high-pressure garden hose so as to create a puddle in the shavings. It is confirmed that she really likes to make a mess with water. Back in the field, I was very excited about life, and wanted to show ARF how we run around together. I leapt in the air, and started running. Surya just stood and watched me. I ran circles around her. What the hell is wrong with you, human? She looked over at ARF. I’m concerned my human is a little inane. ARF laughed.

Day 16: (Monday)  Surya and I had a wonderful ride today walking and trotting. Surya stood quietly sans cross-ties in the aisle to be tacked up. Before riding, I thought I noticed that the slight wind puff on her right hind was bigger than normal, so naturally I freaked out, palpated it, and made multiple people watch while I trotted her out. She was fine. Turning into neurotic horse owner, check. We had a wonderful ride walking and trotting, and I discovered that she loves to have her face rubbed after riding.

Day 17: (Tuesday) It was absolutely gorgeous outside, about 70 degrees. Chestnut TB Mare, Grey TB Mare, and Surya all went out and were fine and happy together. Evidently the TBs followed Surya around, and Surya just hung out, not really caring. We went and rode in the outdoor, and she was great. She was the horse I met in California – very fast, and eager, and confident. We cantered, but she doesn’t seem to be great at curves while cantering, or cantering slowly. She is fantastic at stopping on voice command. I’m never afraid she is going to buck or run off, which means that I am always relaxed and confident. Even when she spooks at things, there is a level of trust that she will take care of me that I haven’t had with any other horse. After riding, I put her in her stall and she spent the night in the barn for the first time.

Day 18: (Wednesday) I bribed Surya into a wash stall with some grain, and she stood for a while. I attached one of the cross ties, let her realize she was attached to the wall, then unhooked her before she had a chance to disapprove. She stood basically ground tied in the aisle while I groomed her and tacked her up, then we both went into the ring where ARF was finishing her lesson. We went outside and walked around the mare’s field while ARF cooled her horse off (I was on a trail ride!). Life is perfect.

Day 19: (Thursday) Today I went for a run with Surya. Let me be clear: I jogged alongside her on a trail for exercise. First I picked out her hooves and gave her some carrots, then we went outside and she grazed for a moment while I got organized. Then I got her walking beside me. I picked up a jog and she followed right along. She started out a little excited, but quickly got the idea and settled down. Some of the time she trotted along with her nose to the ground, some of the time she trotted with head and ears up, and sometimes she went quietly with her neck out and ears relaxed. She was pretty good at matching her pace to mine, until we got to the backside of the farm and there was a narrow space between the fences and trees, and other horses, and at one point deer.  Then she crowded me a bit, but I elbowed her and she remembered I was there. Overall, this was a really fun activity, and I think it improved our relationship. First, it helped establish even more firmly that I was the leader. Second, we ran by some scary spooky things on the trail, such as a large flapping blue tarp, but I could offer extra encouragement since I was on the ground. Third, it was fun! We were running together, which is something that we both love to do. When we returned to the farm, we walked by a small field which houses a pony and another horse. They galloped up, and Surya started prancing around to show off how sexy she is. I stopped her with a look and her name. Best. Training. Ever. I let her graze for fifteen minutes and then we went back inside for some grooming. This time when I scratched her itchy spots, she stuck her front lip all the way out in the air.  I had been able to get her lip going before, but not to the point of her fully committing to enjoying the scratch by making a donkey face with her neck strung out. She likes me! She trusts me! I celebrated how wonderful she is, and Surya celebrated how awesome life is.

Day 20: (Friday) I was very grumpy today, for reasons unrelated to horses. I took Surya out of her stall and groomed her. Then, we worked on backing into the wash stall and standing. I put one of the cross ties on her. She was pretty jumpy and excited. Maybe because I was stressed out? I didn’t push anything. I took her outside and let her graze a bit.

Day 21: (Saturday) I was happy today! It was St. Patrick’s Day! I wore green. I had another lesson on Surya, this time with my regular trainer. The takeaway quote from the lesson was, “Don’t treat her like a porcelain doll. She won’t break, I promise.” Evidently I hover over her, instead of sitting deep into the seat of the saddle and letting her feel my weight. By the end of the lesson, we had a slower, steadier trot and improvement in her listening skills. I love my trainer, almost as much as I love my horse. After the lesson, I put Surya in cross ties in the aisle. She didn’t care, probably because she was tired. Lots and lots and lots of carrots.