Sunday was very nice out. Sunny, and 45 degrees! I had a few hours before work, so I wanted take Bones on a short trail ride. We tacked up, I mounted, and we walked around in the arena for a couple of minutes to warm up before heading out.
We walked up the driveway, almost to the trail in the pine woods, when he started to get "jittery". It was quite windy out, and we were coming to a spot where he would have to walk in between two huge pieces of machinery. There was something on both machines that were flapping/clanking because of the wind, and there was a stack of something wrapped in plastic that was also flapping in the wind ( he has a big issue with plastic ). Understandably, he got kind of freaked out and started to jig a little bit.
He kept trying to go backwards, and turn away from all of the commotion.. but I didn't let him. I squeezed with my legs to motion him forward, and kept his head facing the machinery and plastic. I tried to keep relaxed through my body and hands so I didn't alarm him further. When Bones stood still, facing the machinery, I gave him a pat and told him "good boy", and he would lick and chew (yay!). We eventually made it through the scary machinery (aka monsters), even though he tried to jig the whole way through. There was still some ice on the ground, and he did loose his footing for a short second, but regained it easily. That little ordeal lasted all of about 6-8 minutes. After that, he spooked at almost everything.. so I decided to skip the trail ride and work on getting him to relax around the "monsters". We walked up to several other pieces of machinery. He snorted and tried to "get away" from all of them, but with persistence on my end, he relaxed and accepted each of them.
Then we walked back up the driveway toward the barn, when we saw Steve driving up the driveway. I asked Bones to stand until Steve passed, but he decided that he wanted to head back to the barn, so we did some circles! After Steve drove by, Bones and I headed down the other branch of the driveway, toward the road. We walked down to the road, then turned around and went back to the barn. I sat on him, talking to Steve for a few minutes, then dismounted and un-tacked him.
It wasn't a picturesque ride, but it didn't end badly, and we worked on getting him relax. So, all in all, I'm calling it a successful ride!
These pictures were taken after our ride. He kept following me around.. it was sooo cute!
We walked up the driveway, almost to the trail in the pine woods, when he started to get "jittery". It was quite windy out, and we were coming to a spot where he would have to walk in between two huge pieces of machinery. There was something on both machines that were flapping/clanking because of the wind, and there was a stack of something wrapped in plastic that was also flapping in the wind ( he has a big issue with plastic ). Understandably, he got kind of freaked out and started to jig a little bit.
He kept trying to go backwards, and turn away from all of the commotion.. but I didn't let him. I squeezed with my legs to motion him forward, and kept his head facing the machinery and plastic. I tried to keep relaxed through my body and hands so I didn't alarm him further. When Bones stood still, facing the machinery, I gave him a pat and told him "good boy", and he would lick and chew (yay!). We eventually made it through the scary machinery (aka monsters), even though he tried to jig the whole way through. There was still some ice on the ground, and he did loose his footing for a short second, but regained it easily. That little ordeal lasted all of about 6-8 minutes. After that, he spooked at almost everything.. so I decided to skip the trail ride and work on getting him to relax around the "monsters". We walked up to several other pieces of machinery. He snorted and tried to "get away" from all of them, but with persistence on my end, he relaxed and accepted each of them.
Then we walked back up the driveway toward the barn, when we saw Steve driving up the driveway. I asked Bones to stand until Steve passed, but he decided that he wanted to head back to the barn, so we did some circles! After Steve drove by, Bones and I headed down the other branch of the driveway, toward the road. We walked down to the road, then turned around and went back to the barn. I sat on him, talking to Steve for a few minutes, then dismounted and un-tacked him.
It wasn't a picturesque ride, but it didn't end badly, and we worked on getting him relax. So, all in all, I'm calling it a successful ride!
These pictures were taken after our ride. He kept following me around.. it was sooo cute!
Then, he started eating the ice. I've noticed him doing the before, too. He always has fresh, clean, warm, water, salt, and mineral blocks.. so Idk what's the deal! Haha
I hope that with this nice weather, everyone has a chance to hit the trails!
he's adorable. Love the ears!
ReplyDeleteThanks! I know everyone is partial to their own horses, and I'm no exception! I think Bones is the cutest thing in the world. ;P
ReplyDelete