Post by Chocomare on Oct 13, 2006 7:33:55 GMT -5
I am an idiot. Well, maybe that's too harsh a term. No, no. It's correct.
I have this great mare see. I bought her to have something to ride after my app mare was put down. She is a Clydesdale/Standardbred cross.....granted, not what you normally see out on trail, but who cares.
Now, why am I an idiot, you ask? Well, I turned 40 this year and, well...., I just don't bounce like I used to. Penny bucked me off twice (not maliciously....she was feeling frisky and kinda forgot I was up there) and the 2nd time I got hurt pretty good. Tore ligaments in my right ankle (the one I broke 6 years ago) and did the same to ligaments in two finger joints. Consequently I haven't ridden her much. I love her to death....amazingly good ground manners, a dream for the vet and farrier and all-around good egg (a bit bratty, but that's a mare for ya). #wink#
I took off work this past Monday....the weather has changed and it was cool, crisp, dry with a gentle breeze, so I gathered up my courage and tacked up the P mare for a ride on the Silver Comet Trail. On a further brave whim, I decided to go the opposite direction from where I normally ride....wanting to explore a bit. About a mile down the trail, we came to a concrete and iron bridge over the railroad tracks. Gulp....what are we gonna do with that? The sign says to dismount and lead across BUT I know there is nothing on the other side to assist me in remounting (i.e., park bench, log, boulder, etc.) With my bad back, I cannot mount from the ground. Soooooo, I urged her forward. Penny said "Nope...tain't gonna do it." We circled, halted, etc. and I asked agin. P still said "Noooooo, too scary momma." #hyper#
So I got off and lead her across. The echoing sound of her hooves on the bridge was interesting and even a bit scary for me but we crossed over uneventfully. Now, like I said, I had no way to get back on her, so I led her back over the bridge again to where a convenient bench was waiting. Got back on and faced her towards that scary bridge. SHE WENT OVER!!!! Without so much as a blink!! OOOOOOOHHHHH, Good mare, Good mare!!!! Lotsa scritches and pats. #clap#
We continued on and took the trail that is cut into the woods parallel to the bike path. It was so very nice. No more bugs, no water (P doesn't do water....yet
) and gentle hills to work her butt. After about five miles, we turned back for home. Here came that bridge again. "Bridge? What bridge?" says P. And over we went like it was nothing! #w00t#
That one ride changed my whole attitude about riding Penny. She moves like a dream (that's her S'bred sire coming out....she trots like no other horse I've ever ridden) and willingly moves out. Soooo, building on Monday's courage, I rode Tuesday evening. We even found a new trail through the woods. She played Tracker the whole time....putting her head down to sniff as we walked. It was great! #962#
Then, I rode again last night, going back down to that scary bridge. Well, unfortunately she kinda forgot about Monday and refused to go over. Thankfully a nice man who was taking a rest from his bike offered to lead her over for me and saved me from repeating the whole Monday thing again. We continued our ride for about 2 miles and, since it was getting dark, turned back for home. Yup, back to the bridge. Only this time there was no nice man there. I figured I'd be getting off to lead her over (remember, bench on other side ) but wanted to give her the benefit of the doubt. I looked straight ahead like always and urged her forward. She wilingly went on the bridge and kept going .... no big deal, right. Well it was because there was a train going under said bridge! A big coal-filled diesel, spewing smoke and hissing as it slowly rumbled under the bridge. Penny just tucked her heiny under and jigged a little but SHE DID IT! #woohoo# #yay#
I was just beaming and grinning from ear to ear! We rode the rest of the way home on the buckle with lots more pats, scritches and GOOD MARES. #love#
Now, see why I was an idiot? Here I had this great horse and was ignoring her. Stupid, stupid, stupid. #duh#
I have this great mare see. I bought her to have something to ride after my app mare was put down. She is a Clydesdale/Standardbred cross.....granted, not what you normally see out on trail, but who cares.
Now, why am I an idiot, you ask? Well, I turned 40 this year and, well...., I just don't bounce like I used to. Penny bucked me off twice (not maliciously....she was feeling frisky and kinda forgot I was up there) and the 2nd time I got hurt pretty good. Tore ligaments in my right ankle (the one I broke 6 years ago) and did the same to ligaments in two finger joints. Consequently I haven't ridden her much. I love her to death....amazingly good ground manners, a dream for the vet and farrier and all-around good egg (a bit bratty, but that's a mare for ya). #wink#
I took off work this past Monday....the weather has changed and it was cool, crisp, dry with a gentle breeze, so I gathered up my courage and tacked up the P mare for a ride on the Silver Comet Trail. On a further brave whim, I decided to go the opposite direction from where I normally ride....wanting to explore a bit. About a mile down the trail, we came to a concrete and iron bridge over the railroad tracks. Gulp....what are we gonna do with that? The sign says to dismount and lead across BUT I know there is nothing on the other side to assist me in remounting (i.e., park bench, log, boulder, etc.) With my bad back, I cannot mount from the ground. Soooooo, I urged her forward. Penny said "Nope...tain't gonna do it." We circled, halted, etc. and I asked agin. P still said "Noooooo, too scary momma." #hyper#
So I got off and lead her across. The echoing sound of her hooves on the bridge was interesting and even a bit scary for me but we crossed over uneventfully. Now, like I said, I had no way to get back on her, so I led her back over the bridge again to where a convenient bench was waiting. Got back on and faced her towards that scary bridge. SHE WENT OVER!!!! Without so much as a blink!! OOOOOOOHHHHH, Good mare, Good mare!!!! Lotsa scritches and pats. #clap#
We continued on and took the trail that is cut into the woods parallel to the bike path. It was so very nice. No more bugs, no water (P doesn't do water....yet
) and gentle hills to work her butt. After about five miles, we turned back for home. Here came that bridge again. "Bridge? What bridge?" says P. And over we went like it was nothing! #w00t# That one ride changed my whole attitude about riding Penny. She moves like a dream (that's her S'bred sire coming out....she trots like no other horse I've ever ridden) and willingly moves out. Soooo, building on Monday's courage, I rode Tuesday evening. We even found a new trail through the woods. She played Tracker the whole time....putting her head down to sniff as we walked. It was great! #962#
Then, I rode again last night, going back down to that scary bridge. Well, unfortunately she kinda forgot about Monday and refused to go over. Thankfully a nice man who was taking a rest from his bike offered to lead her over for me and saved me from repeating the whole Monday thing again. We continued our ride for about 2 miles and, since it was getting dark, turned back for home. Yup, back to the bridge. Only this time there was no nice man there. I figured I'd be getting off to lead her over (remember, bench on other side ) but wanted to give her the benefit of the doubt. I looked straight ahead like always and urged her forward. She wilingly went on the bridge and kept going .... no big deal, right. Well it was because there was a train going under said bridge! A big coal-filled diesel, spewing smoke and hissing as it slowly rumbled under the bridge. Penny just tucked her heiny under and jigged a little but SHE DID IT! #woohoo# #yay#
I was just beaming and grinning from ear to ear! We rode the rest of the way home on the buckle with lots more pats, scritches and GOOD MARES. #love#
Now, see why I was an idiot? Here I had this great horse and was ignoring her. Stupid, stupid, stupid. #duh#
