Lest you think Willow is a darling girl all the time, I thought I'd post about tonight's ride. Now, thinking back on my last few rides, I see clearly that she was building up to an extreme bout of naughtiness. Tonight when I got on, all she would do is throw up her head and threaten to rear. It got dangerous pretty fast, and I was at the barn alone, so I decided not to engage in the fight from the saddle. I hopped off, hooked up the side reins, and proceeded to lunge the snot out of her instead. I made as big of an oval as I could and galloped her 'til she was pooped. Then I got back on and galloped her for another ten minutes. Then I made her trot really big for another ten minutes. She's not stupid; she realized I was furious and was utterly obedient under saddle the second time around. I praised her up and down and then walked her for twenty minutes until she wasn't blowing. She was a steamy mare.
I gave her some bute, and sore or not, she's getting galloped again tomorrow! I let her build up to thinking she's running the show; time to remind her who's in charge. Alpha mare that she is, she's always testing me. It's actually part of the reason I love mares. You have to earn every inch with them.
3 comments:
LOL! And that's why I despise mares (not really) because I got so sick of fighting every time we rode. :) I prefer the laid back, willing personality of geldings. I've had plenty of rides like yours, although normally if was because she would play hard to catch so I'd chase her around the field, then tack up and ride the snot out of her. That broke her of running away really quick. :)
Maybe January 31 is Mares' Day Off Day and we just didn't know?
It isn't only mares [: My gelding is the same way. I give him two days off for weather reasons - not my choice but with outdoor arenas and as much rain as the south is getting we have no choice - and I come back to a fight. Lunging and side reins are really a gift from God! haha
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