3equines
06-13-2009, 06:22 AM
Sorry, no picuters yet, but here's the story:
I had my friend's daughter over to meet the horses yesterday and I put her on my Halfinger, Peach, who is very calm and quiet. The girl had not ridden a horse for a few years, so we started from the ground up and worked through the basics. It was really neat for me to watch the two beings figure eachother out. In the beginning, Peach just went along with it and was happy to have a person to try and please. Then Peach realized this was WORK, and that her rider wasn't quite on top of things. There were some moments where Peach played 'dead horse' and wouldn't move, and the girl had to learn how to get her heels in the right place and push Peach forward like she MEANS it. As the girl began to get her legs, seat, and reins co-ordinated Peach responded better and better to her cues. They worked it out, and by the end of the riding session the girl had her heels down, toes out, reins the right length, and Peach was really working for her.
I always get a thrill when I watch someone else ride one of my horses, and see the horses listening to the rider, responding to the right cues, and doing what is being asked. It was also exciting to see the girl figure out how to get over the 'dead horse' thing and take control of the situation, and learn how to really ride. Peach and the girl look really good together, and I can hardly wait until we get out on a trail ride and have some fun (yesterday's ride was Pony Boot Camp, a lot of me barking orders and not a whole lot of fun for the girl!). After they get a few miles under the saddle, I will put the girl on Sweet P and see how they do. Sweet P is much more willful and sometimes downright ornery, but a heck of a good horse and fun to ride.
I had my friend's daughter over to meet the horses yesterday and I put her on my Halfinger, Peach, who is very calm and quiet. The girl had not ridden a horse for a few years, so we started from the ground up and worked through the basics. It was really neat for me to watch the two beings figure eachother out. In the beginning, Peach just went along with it and was happy to have a person to try and please. Then Peach realized this was WORK, and that her rider wasn't quite on top of things. There were some moments where Peach played 'dead horse' and wouldn't move, and the girl had to learn how to get her heels in the right place and push Peach forward like she MEANS it. As the girl began to get her legs, seat, and reins co-ordinated Peach responded better and better to her cues. They worked it out, and by the end of the riding session the girl had her heels down, toes out, reins the right length, and Peach was really working for her.
I always get a thrill when I watch someone else ride one of my horses, and see the horses listening to the rider, responding to the right cues, and doing what is being asked. It was also exciting to see the girl figure out how to get over the 'dead horse' thing and take control of the situation, and learn how to really ride. Peach and the girl look really good together, and I can hardly wait until we get out on a trail ride and have some fun (yesterday's ride was Pony Boot Camp, a lot of me barking orders and not a whole lot of fun for the girl!). After they get a few miles under the saddle, I will put the girl on Sweet P and see how they do. Sweet P is much more willful and sometimes downright ornery, but a heck of a good horse and fun to ride.