This Could Get to Be a Habit
Apr. 28th, 2004 10:12 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
dancinghorseGaleforce winds. Ride on ze keed.
I wasn't going to. But the wind died down, there was just enough time before sundown, I grabbed his saddle and trucked it out. (There is no graceful way to lug a Western saddle. Nohow.) Naturally, just I finished grooming him, the wind came back with a shriek and a howl, but I'd gone too far to quit.
It wasn't too bad, though riding along the edge of the mesa in 30mph gusts was a bit interesting. The west was clearing up fast after a long afternoon of dueling storms--none that gave us more than a sprinkle, but the sky effects were impressive. The mountain to the east was still locked in with rain--blue-black clouds over it, and a stub of rainbow fading into the middle slopes.
The storm blew away. The wind kept blustering. We had no major spooks and only one tiny eek. Very good for keed. He was rattled inside--I could feel how tense he was--but he kept it under control. I did after all remind him that he's a Warhorse.
During the day, Pages got written. Websites got discussed and tweaked. Assorted Admin Crap got done or started. So, productive overall, though only one horse went under saddle. I decided to claim this morning's Adventure with da Pook as a work session, since it took 15 minutes of free longeing to get him to let me catch him for breakfast. He was a bit off his head with hormones, and he wanted me to help him work them off. So, we walk-trot-cantered without a line, on a very nice circle, until he could focus. There's something magical about free-longeing a horse who, even testosteroned out of his mind, is so connected that he'll do whatever I indicate with tiny turns of the hand or body.
Another month or six weeks and he'll have that part of his brain back. Meanwhile, we persevere. And thank heaven for keed, who as a gelding is no more or less Evil than he ever is, regardless of the season.
I wasn't going to. But the wind died down, there was just enough time before sundown, I grabbed his saddle and trucked it out. (There is no graceful way to lug a Western saddle. Nohow.) Naturally, just I finished grooming him, the wind came back with a shriek and a howl, but I'd gone too far to quit.
It wasn't too bad, though riding along the edge of the mesa in 30mph gusts was a bit interesting. The west was clearing up fast after a long afternoon of dueling storms--none that gave us more than a sprinkle, but the sky effects were impressive. The mountain to the east was still locked in with rain--blue-black clouds over it, and a stub of rainbow fading into the middle slopes.
The storm blew away. The wind kept blustering. We had no major spooks and only one tiny eek. Very good for keed. He was rattled inside--I could feel how tense he was--but he kept it under control. I did after all remind him that he's a Warhorse.
During the day, Pages got written. Websites got discussed and tweaked. Assorted Admin Crap got done or started. So, productive overall, though only one horse went under saddle. I decided to claim this morning's Adventure with da Pook as a work session, since it took 15 minutes of free longeing to get him to let me catch him for breakfast. He was a bit off his head with hormones, and he wanted me to help him work them off. So, we walk-trot-cantered without a line, on a very nice circle, until he could focus. There's something magical about free-longeing a horse who, even testosteroned out of his mind, is so connected that he'll do whatever I indicate with tiny turns of the hand or body.
Another month or six weeks and he'll have that part of his brain back. Meanwhile, we persevere. And thank heaven for keed, who as a gelding is no more or less Evil than he ever is, regardless of the season.
no subject
Date: 2004-04-30 08:26 am (UTC)Getting on the roof and converting the cooler in the wind was another adventure.
---L.