Back in the Saddle
It didn't take long for B to be ready to get going again. Especially when I tacked him up to long line and he pulled me over to one of the jumps still set up from our lesson with K. Well, okay then. Maybe tomorrow. I tacked him up the next day and hopped on for a little flat work and he felt awesome so I said okay... Pick something and he picked up a forward canter and jumped it.
Am I in trouble?
At least I know what to do when he gets stuck now, just point him at a jump!
Can I just sleep through this Mom?
Saturday I completed my fourth 5K and second obstacle course. It was actually just under 3 miles so I guess it couldn't be considered a full 5K but come on, inflatable obstacle course? It was pretty fun but definitely didn't beat the WipeOut run last year. I did get a medal though!
I then continued to drink myself into oblivion for the rest of the day... Not the best idea and really not proud of myself for it. But that's a whole other story is for a non-happy-horse related blog.
Unfortunately this picture doesn't show my super awesome lucky unicorn socks.
What the hell did I sign up for?!
So as we all know, K's been helping me out with my jumping skills and I feel like B and I are pretty much killing it and I'm dying to go school on the cross-country course. But another one of my goals for him is to get other people on him to help get rid of this stranger danger bull he's got going on. K mentioned that she'd love to give him another go and I was all for it. She's an incredible rider and it's been a while since she's been on him so I was super excited when she asked. I poked and prodded and finally she was able to come up yesterday and take him for a spin... almost literally.
It's hard to explain unless you experience it with him because when you get put in that situation, you can feel a wave of ultimate terror flow over Brantley and then into you. It's not just a spook and bolt... It's like a freight train of "FUCK I'M GOING TO DIE" which I don't think anyone honestly enjoys.
Not a video of him attempting murder... A much nicer video instead.
Plus of course, camera wasn't rolling because it NEVER is in times of panic.
Luckily it didn't take long for him to get over himself but of course I felt awful about it...
"Hey! Come ride my horse he's been going great!"
then "Oh sorry he just tried to take your life..."
K took him over the cross-rails again and he was okay. Still a little more forward than we wanted but no more bolting shenanigans. I hopped on him to make sure there wasn't something else going on and we went over everything without an issue so who knows.
It's really frustrating because I'm not the most competent rider. I'm pretty well balanced and I can basically sit on anything and make it work but I don't have half the training or experience that my fellow horse-friends have. Then I've got this horse that I can gallop through the woods and apparently now jump almost anything put in front of us or hop on bareback for a little cool down... But god forbid someone else gets on him.
Here I am saying to trainers, "My goal is to make him as experienced and as versatile as he can be so that if something happens to me, someone else can just get on and go." but they can't.
And I'm so nervous even to let someone new hop on... Let alone a pony ride.
I'll take any advice... Or if anyone wants to take a trip and ride my pony...
posted by Madeline C. @ 10:13 AM
8 Comments
8 Comments:
I thought the exact same thing when I signed up for TWO Tough Mudders within 4 weeks of each other, WTH was I thinking?? haha! Seriously though, its the distance that kills you, not the obstacles. By mile 8 on each race my knees were on fire and by the second to last mile (12) my feet were numb, in both races. The second race was 96* too and it was actually miserable. I almost quit. My advice is to train a little on distance, and not fast. Most people can't run past 5 miles, and I wouldn't want to anyways! They WERE fun though! Electroshock obstacle might have been the worst thing ever though, I would claim heart problems and skip it hahaha!
Sidenote, I WISH I could ride your pony! I want to ride them allllll
Oh do the virtual 5k with me in october! :D
Horse always make liars out of you. I used to have this dead broke horse. She was literally voice controllable so I could put anyone on her and then instruct her to walk, trot, stop, etc. And I would still tell every single person that she was dangerous and unpredictable. Because all horses are dangerous and unpredictable.
Also, you tough mudder people are nuts.
Sorry he wasn't great for your friend to ride - sounds frustrating!
Send me the info! ^.^ There's an app I keep meaning to download called the Strava app. Look it up. We can be long distance running buddies.
My friend did one last year and is now not only doing the one on October 9th with me, but she's doing the one on the 8th too. WHAT?! Thanks for the tips... And if you want to do another one, come to RI, ride my pony, and we'll venture to Jersey for the Tri-State mudder ahahaha.
Agreed ahaha
Everyone survived so we'll just have to try it again ^.^
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