Monday, October 17, 2016

Problems with a slightly more fit, athletic horse

Taran has always been a bit spooky. Things in the woods, stripes on the road, a divot in the arena (or heaven forbid, a tiny spot in the arena that didn't get groomed)... all of these are cause for the hairy eyeball treatment and perhaps a bit of a spook. Luckily Taran is of the opinion that energy is best conserved, so bolting isn't really in his repertoire. And because of that, I've never really worried about my ability to stay on during his rather pathetic attempts at being naughty.

Until recently.

While I know that Taran is nowhere near as fit as even a Novice level eventer, he's still probably the most fit he's ever been in his life. He's also realized that he can use his body in new and inventive ways. Lateral movements are now a Thing He Does. Turn on the forehand/haunches are a well-understood (if not well executed) concept. Unfortunately, some of these new movement are used in a rather untimely manner, and of his own accord. So we get classy moments like these:


OH MY GOD WHO PUT THAT WATER BOTTLE THERE??? (This was a split second before he teleported left to X)

SWEET BABY JESUS THERE ARE FLOWERS AT A 

Please note that there have been flowers at A since we started riding here almost a year ago. They are the same flowers that have always been there. They have not moved or changed in any way. Weirdo. Maybe he should have been a cutting horse?

On the bright side, when we're not spooking at random "scary" things, the good moments are getting better.

Medium trot is looking so much more powerful and connected.

And way more "up" in front. If only I would stop leaning back!

Even our moments of disobedience look less... disobedient. Erm... as long as we're not spooking at all the things. 

21 comments:

  1. "a divot in the arena (or heaven forbid, a tiny spot in the arena that didn't get groomed)"

    Penn's #1 spooky object. The tiny pile of sand that gets left behind when they lift up the drag.

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    1. Murray's too. Or if there's a spot that is watered/damp that somehow isn't as dried out as the rest of the arena he's like "BLACK HOLE FUCK THAT SHIT".

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    2. Oh man Taran too! "OMG YOU FORGOT A SPOT EEEEEEEEK!!!"

      Seriously horse?

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  2. Replies
    1. Everything is out to kill gray ponies. I swear.

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  3. Try riding in an arena that suddenly has lights on outside. SHADOWS!! I feel the pain, thankfully Mia isn't too bad.

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    1. Oh man, we leap over shadows in a single (graceless) bound.

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  4. There are definitely pros and cons to teaching horses new tricks and new ways to used those powerful bodies. Haha.

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    1. Yeeeeah... some of those I wish he didn't know.

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  5. lol Taran. he's just trying to keep you both safe in a dangerous world!!

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    1. I feel like his world is rather more dangerous than mine.

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  6. Well yeah we definitely had a solid spook at a line in the sand the other day... divots have been our nemesis for years. At least the good stuff gets better too!

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    1. Taran seems to think those divots may actually be black holes to the center of the earth.

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  7. I feel your pain! A certain baby TB (no names will be mentioned here) is getting fitter and stronger and is learning to use his powers for good as well as evil (boo).

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  8. It's always kinda funny (and scary) when they realize they are fit!

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    1. Yeeeahhh... if only they didn't take advantage of the fitness in evil ways!

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  9. Being fit is a blessing and a curse! They need to use it for good and not evil

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