I woke up early on Saturday, October 16th, ready to tackle a new milestone in Cody’s training. His first trail ride without a pasture-mate. There was a huge event planned at the Carlton Reserve called Canter for Cancer and it seemed like the perfect venue. 100’s of horses were registered to attend and Peggy had other plans.
The sun was just casting it’s orange glow to the yard as I brushed Cody out, cleaned his hooves and combed his mane and tail. He immediately became suspicious. When I pulled out the halter bridle, he shoved his head as far out the back of the stall as it would go. But I was not so easily discouraged. A small wrestling match began, which I won, and then I led him to the gate.
He had resigned himself at that point. That is, until he realized no one was coming with him. About halfway around the house, he started to whinny and fuss. The others answered, which fanned the flames of his rebellion.
I hooked his trailer tie to the outside of the trailer so I could tack him up and he was still trumpeting. I walked out of the tackroom just in time to see him rear and sit back, and the quick release “released” and off ran my horse.
The black blur took about three spins around the yard before aiming at the fence with intentions to jump. It was like a car wreck.. I had to look. But he didn’t jump. He slid to a mincing halt then ran up and down the fence line. I was able to sweet talk him into standing still a moment and grabbed his trailer tie.
BACK to the trailer we went. Since the saddle was already out (dumped where I dropped it and ran after him), I just held onto him until I had the saddle and pad up next to him and we did a quick saddling.
Again, he had calmed down and seemed to resign himself. So I put him in the trailer and secured him, then finished loading the truck and ran inside to get ready. I figured it would give him time to reflect.
When I came back out, I was happy to find he hadn’t clawed his way out of the trailer and all was well. Cody was unhappy, but still tied in the trailer. I jumped in and off we went. We made it to the gas station only to find that my wallet wasn’t in my purse. And back home we went! So much for being early.
Cody was ecstatic. YES! Just a trailer ride. We’re home. By this time all of the horses were in the pasture and much screaming back and forth ensued. As we drove away again, I could hear Cody calling after them.
It was a 50 minute drive to Carlton Reserve, which gave me plenty of time to daydream about how I’d die sometime during the day. I envisioned Cody, a sweaty horrified mess leaping at every noise, snorting fire, and bucking.
We arrived at Carlton Reserve and were waved in to register. There were so many horses and trailers there. It was an amazing turnout. Excitement was in the air and so were pink unicorns and fairies. There were people dressed up in so many shades and textures of pink, it was crazy. I counted at least four unicorns with horns of various objects tacked onto their heads. There was a horse with a mane made of feathered boas, and at least two pink fairies complete with pink wings.
Maybe that’s how I’d die, I reflected as I waited to register. He’d spook at a fairy and bash me into a tree. Death by fairy.
Cody whinnied when I got out of the truck to register, and I told him it was ok. His snort echoed back to me like a scoff. He’d obviously seen the fairy too.
After registering, we followed the golf cart way out to the parking which was about a mile and a half from the main area. This was it. Time to get the dragon out of the lair. Deep breaths.
I opened the side door to the trailer and Cody looked expectantly at me. Carefully I slide the pink halter over his halter bridle and unhooked the trailer tie. “Ok now. Wait!” I told him. He just blinked.
I went back around the trailer and opened the back door, expecting him to escape like a bat out of Hell. But he just stood there, ears pricked, head turned to look at me. I waited a minute. So did he. So I said. “Ok, Cody. Back up.”
And leisurely, as if he really didn’t intend on being an insane animal today, he began to back up, and stepped ever so politely off the trailer, then faced me like. “Ok, now what?”
Encouraged, I gave him a treat, put the saddle bags (with more treats!) on his saddle and locked up the truck. Then we began to walk back to the main area. He was interested, looking around, walking out eagerly, but respectfully staying beside me. No pushing or walking on my feet. He didn’t trample me once.
About halfway we ran into Roberta and Marcia, who had come looking for us. At that point, we were at one of their trailers so I used it to mount up. Cody stood like a perfect boy as I got on. He even let me get my feet in the stirrups before he moved. Hmm. Just like he’s supposed to.
And that set the tone for the entire day. He was eager, excited but in no way unmanageable or unruly. He forged a little when we moved out but nothing that wasn’t corrected by a little more pressure on the reins. He gaited out, well collected. We were moving out at one point at a fast rack at the same speed the others were cantering. He was responsive, obedient.
And for some reason, I was amazed! The weather was beautiful and it felt so great to be out on the trail. I actually stopped worrying! It was very pleasant.
There was no posturing toward strange horses. Cody walked calmly along as horses and riders passed us. He didn’t spook or jump, even when some of the other horses did. He even saw a water moccasin near his feet at a stream and all he did was back up with his head bowed looking at it.
He did kick out once when my cell phone “barked”. I have this silly ring that barked out a tune and I’d forgotten about it. It was in the saddle horn bag and when it started “barking”, Cody bowed up with his head to the side and kicked out, thinking a dog was on his heels. Once I pulled the phone out and it barked it’s final time, he was over it.
We went out for a little over an hour, came back and ate lunch, then went out again for a few more hours. I know he covered at least 12 to 15 miles and much of it at a good gait. I’d say Cody had as good of a day as I did. He got treats, saw a couple of unicorns and fairies. He got a lot of petting and a hell of a lot of praise.
I was very proud of him. It’s like when you teach your child to fish and all they catch is seaweed. Then one day, you watch them reel in a big fish, and they actually remember everything you taught them about it.
I think Cody caught a very big fish this day.
No comments:
Post a Comment