i rode – we both survived

Yes, I rode the Snow-pony at home last night Didn’t think it was going to happen for a few minutes though…

I’m at a quiet, private, non-boarding barn. Owner has horses but doesn’t ride. Only other “boarder” is a woman I’ve never seen out there who pasture boards a 27 year old TB mare.

So I get out there and first thing I notice is somebody in the arena – other boarder is out riding! Okay, cool. She’s also brought her little yappy dog, who IS (thankfully!) contained in her truck, but who is also yapping his little head non-stop out the window. The yapping is spooking the horses turned out nearby, so there are a couple yearlings bucking laps twenty feet away from the arena.

Also, we moved here the same week Snow left for training, so this isn’t “home” for her, it IS someplace new.

She was as amped up as I’ve ever seen her! I waited for the other woman to leave the arena (we had to spin five circles just to get IN the gate), and decided to lunge Snow first . It took her a good half an hour to “get the bucks out.” Meanwhile my mom was happily jogging around on Anna, who was wondering WHY on earth Snow was using ALL that energy (for those who haven’t seen my “naughty pony” pictures, she doesn’t believe in little bucks or hops, she makes them COUNT!).

Eventually Snow calmed down a bit, and I could get a couple transitions on the lunge, so I started walking her around the arena. Now, I LOVE this arena. It’s big, it’s open, it’s FUN to ride in. BUT… there are weeds growing in it, and it’s not very level (and it had just rained and was slick in spots), and generally has lots of scary place (as in, all four corners, all four sides, and those couple of spots in the middle ). Snow didn’t seemed bothered by anything except the cows across the street.

The other boarder had also left by now, and so the other horses had calmed down, and everything was generally nice and quiet (although it was also getting dark).

So at this point I decided I really HAD to get on her. She was back to calm as normal, and I really didn’t have any excuses anymore (not if I ever wanted to ride her, or if I didn’t want to waste all that time and money with Holly!)…so up I went. And we walked around, and trotted a bit, and walked around some more. We went past the scary cows, the scary ground poles, the scary bucket, up the big incline – and she was pretty much great!! DEFINITELY distracted, more distracted than she’s ever been when I’VE been on her. But not BAD, and nothing I didn’t feel comfortable handling.

So, I rode the pony!!

(I KNOW I’m going to get yelled at, but no pictures…my mom was busy riding HER horse while this was going on! WOOHOO!)